CMRL diary row: Kerala Minister Muraleedharan draws line between poll funds and corruption
Synopsis
A single diary page — purportedly from CMRL MD S.N. Sasidharan Kartha and submitted by the SFIO before court — has named politicians from both Kerala's ruling LDF and opposition UDF, turning a case primarily targeting the Pinarayi Vijayan government into a multi-party political crisis. Health Minister Muraleedharan's offer to face investigation is notable, but his election-versus-corruption framing may define the political battle ahead.
Key Takeaways
Kerala Health Minister K.
Muraleedharan on 24 September 2026 distinguished between election-period money and corrupt payments amid the CMRL diary row .
BJP leader Shone George released a diary page purportedly from CMRL MD S.N.
Sasidharan Kartha , submitted by the SFIO before court.
The page names politicians from both LDF and UDF , including V.D.
Satheesan , Oommen Chandy , Ramesh Chennithala , and V.S.
Achuthanandan , among others.
The controversy centres on alleged payments by CMRL to entities including Exalogic Solutions , reportedly linked to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter Veena Vijayan .
Muraleedharan said he has no objection to an investigation into the diary, while cautioning against blind acceptance of ED claims.
Kerala Health Minister and senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan on Thursday, 24 September 2026, sought to distinguish between money received during elections and money allegedly tied to corruption, as the controversy over a diary purportedly belonging to CMRL Managing Director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha intensified in Thiruvananthapuram. His remarks came in response to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shone George releasing a page reportedly from Kartha's diary, claimed to be part of documents submitted by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) before court in the CMRL-Exalogic monthly-payment case.
What Muraleedharan Said
'Taking money during elections and taking corrupt money are two different things. There may have been money received during the election period. Let any investigation take place. There is no problem even if this diary is investigated,' Muraleedharan said. He added that the law should take its own course and indicated no objection to a full investigation into the diary's contents.
He also struck a careful note on the Enforcement Directorate (ED): 'At the same time, Kerala is not a government that will blindly believe whatever the ED says. But if the ED officially asks for something, it has to be carried out,' he said.
The Diary Page and the Names It Contains
BJP leader Shone George has questioned why no Vigilance investigation was initiated against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the case, suggesting that the presence of names of several political leaders on the diary page may have been a factor. The released page carries names spanning both the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), including Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, K. Muraleedharan, C.K. Chandrappan, Elamaram Kareem, M.V. Govindan, Hibi Eden, Pannyan Raveendran, S. Sharma, P. Rajeeve, State Minister Shibu Baby John, and K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
The cross-party appearance of names has opened a new political front in the controversy, shifting focus to the nature and purpose of the diary entries themselves.
The CMRL-Exalogic Backdrop
The controversy centres on alleged payments made by CMRL to various individuals and entities, including Exalogic Solutions, a company reportedly linked to Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state government has already faced sustained political pressure over the ED's findings and recommendations in this case. Notably, the SFIO's involvement adds a second federal investigative layer to an already complex probe.
Key Question Before Investigators
The immediate question before investigating agencies is whether the diary entries represent legitimate political or election-related contributions, routine business transactions, or payments that warrant deeper scrutiny. Muraleedharan's stance suggests a willingness to face investigation, while insisting that the character of each payment must be established before conclusions are drawn. The emergence of the diary page has broadened what was primarily an LDF-facing controversy into a multi-party political flashpoint.
What Comes Next
With the SFIO document now in public domain and the BJP pressing for a Vigilance probe, the Kerala government faces mounting pressure to clarify its position on an independent investigation. The state's response to any formal ED request will be closely watched. Whether the diary becomes a catalyst for a wider accountability reckoning — or gets absorbed into Kerala's well-worn cycle of political charge and counter-charge — will depend largely on what investigating agencies decide to pursue next.
Point of View
Making it harder for any single camp to weaponise the issue without implicating itself. The more important question mainstream coverage is missing is this: if the SFIO submitted this document before a court, why has no Vigilance or CBI inquiry been triggered on the named individuals? The silence of institutional investigation, not the political noise, is the real story.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CMRL diary controversy in Kerala?
The controversy involves a diary purportedly belonging to CMRL Managing Director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha, a page from which was released by BJP leader Shone George on 24 September 2026. The page, claimed to be part of an SFIO document submitted in court in the CMRL-Exalogic case, contains the names of several prominent politicians from both the LDF and UDF.
Who are the politicians named in the CMRL diary page?
The diary page names Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, former Chief Ministers Oommen Chandy and V.S. Achuthanandan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, K. Muraleedharan, C.K. Chandrappan, Elamaram Kareem, M.V. Govindan, Hibi Eden, Pannyan Raveendran, S. Sharma, P. Rajeeve, State Minister Shibu Baby John, and K.B. Ganesh Kumar.
What did Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan say about the diary?
Muraleedharan said he has no objection to an investigation into the diary. He drew a distinction between money received during elections and money linked to corruption, arguing the two are different and that the character of each payment must be established before drawing conclusions.
What is the CMRL-Exalogic case about?
The case concerns alleged payments made by CMRL to various individuals and entities, including Exalogic Solutions, a company reportedly linked to Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Both the SFIO and the Enforcement Directorate are involved in the investigation.
Why has BJP demanded a Vigilance probe in the CMRL case?
BJP leader Shone George has questioned the absence of a Vigilance investigation against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, suggesting that the presence of multiple political names in the diary page may explain why a broader probe was not initiated. He released the diary page to press for accountability.
