The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches on Wednesday, 27 May at multiple locations linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas as part of its probe into the Exalogic-CMRL payment case. The raids triggered an immediate and sharp political confrontation across Kerala, with the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) alleging political vendetta and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding accountability over the alleged financial dealings.

What the ED Raids Covered

The searches were carried out at the residences of Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena Vijayan, and former state minister PA Mohammed Riyas, among other locations. The raids are part of an ongoing investigation into payments allegedly made by CMRL to Veena Vijayan in connection with the Exalogic matter. The ED did not issue an immediate public statement on the scope of the searches.

CPI(M) Calls It Political Vendetta

CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby strongly condemned the raids, alleging that the BJP-led Centre was deploying central investigative agencies to intimidate and target opposition leaders. The party described the action as 'a calculated assault on federalism, democracy, and the constitutional right to political opposition.'

The Kerala unit of the CPI(M) also questioned the silence of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, asking whether it was 'complicit in enabling this witch-hunt' against Vijayan. CPI(M) workers and activists affiliated with party trade unions held protests at multiple locations across the state following the raids.

What the Government and BJP Said

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told reporters that the state government had received no prior information about the ED operation. 'The Kerala government or the home ministry has no information about this raid. They didn't seek our support either. So, we don't know the details of the raid. This question must be posed to the ED,' he said.

Senior BJP leader and MLA V. Muraleedharan took a sharply different line, questioning the CPI(M)'s response. 'If your hands are clean, why panic? Can the party explain why CMRL paid money to Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter?' he asked, demanding clarity on the alleged payments.

Riyas Vows to Continue the Fight

In a Facebook post, PA Mohammed Riyas said CPI(M) workers would not be deterred by the action. 'You may carry out attacks, but we will never bow before the Sangh Parivar. We will continue the fight till our last breath,' he wrote. The post drew wide attention amid the escalating political standoff.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The Exalogic-CMRL controversy has been simmering for months, with opposition parties alleging irregular payments routed through Veena Vijayan's firm. The ED's move to conduct physical searches marks a significant escalation. This is not the first time central agencies have taken action against leaders of state governments run by parties other than the BJP — critics argue such raids follow a pattern, while the Centre maintains they are independent, evidence-driven operations.

All eyes are now on the ED's next steps, including whether formal notices or arrests follow the searches, and how the Kerala government responds to what the CPI(M) has framed as a constitutional crisis.