The CPI(M) on Sunday accused the Enforcement Directorate of politically targeting Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL money laundering case. The party held a meeting in Kozhikode after the ED’s probe into Vijayan’s daughter Veena T and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited.
Addressing the event, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said the probe had an ulterior political motive and alleged that Veena was being targeted to reach the former chief minister and his son-in-law, MLA P A Muhammed Riyas. He also questioned the ED’s recent searches and its public communication during the investigation.
“Politics is the only game being played to turn this into a case without any evidence. That is the politics we strongly oppose,” Govindan said.
He said the ED’s practice of issuing press releases during an ongoing investigation was unusual. “What the ED is doing here is a strange stance. That strange stance comes in the form of press releases. Conducting an investigation, twisting and elaborating on matters that have no basis or evidence, and propagating them as if major evidence has been found to create a smokescreen,” he said.
Govindan alleged that nothing was found during searches at the residences of Vijayan and Riyas on May 27. He said the ED had made little progress in the CMRL case and claimed that the latest searches were aimed at creating a new narrative.
He was referring to searches carried out last week at nine locations, including the residences of people associated with Riyas. “What did you get? You issued a press release saying, ‘We got it.’ What did you get? Apart from issuing a press note to create suspicion, you have received nothing,” he said.
Govindan also alleged that those questioned during the searches were intimidated and claimed that the ED was trying to open a new line of investigation by referring to hawala. He said Riyas was now being targeted because he is Vijayan’s son-in-law.
“But now, it is not just Vijayan. You are trying to frame Muhammed Riyas – a CPI(M) State Secretariat member, former minister and MLA-just because he is Vijayan’s son-in-law. We will face that attempt politically as well,” he said.
Govindan defended CPI(M) leaders and workers whom he said were being targeted in connection with the searches. Referring to the long-pending SNC-Lavalin case involving Vijayan, which was being investigated by the CBI, he alleged that the ED would similarly drag on the present case for decades.
He said the CMRL-related matter would be dealt with by the company and repeated that the CPI(M) would oppose what he described as political targeting of its leaders and workers. According to him, the meeting was part of a political campaign to explain to the public that such alleged attempts by the ED would not be accepted by society.
Govindan alleged that the ED did not examine the facts before starting investigations. “The case is being initiated with a political target in mind. Usually, the facts of a case are examined, and based on that, everything else follows. But in ED cases, that is absent. They declare the target. After declaring that target, the investigation follows,” he said.
He further alleged that the BJP was using the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, with the help of the ED, to target political leaders, especially those from opposition parties. “There are no cases against BJP leaders under the law. Upon checking, nearly 95 per cent were against opposition party leaders. Not a single one was against a BJP member. One cannot say that they are people who haven’t carried out money laundering,” he said.
Govindan also alleged that the BJP spent more than Rs 4 crore during the Kerala Assembly election in priority constituencies as part of its campaign and claimed that the money was unaccounted for, while the ED did not begin any probe. “The present ED is not a truthful agency that the people of India can rely on. They are adopting a partisan and political stance,” he said.
The CPI(M) used the Kozhikode meeting to repeat its charge that the ED’s probe in the CMRL case was politically driven, with Govindan alleging that the agency was targeting Vijayan, Veena and Riyas while using searches, press notes and fresh claims to build suspicion.
– Ends
With PTI inputs
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Aug 23, 2026 23:21 IST
