CPI-M Kerala state Secretary M.V. Govindan on Tuesday, 22 September declared that his party would mount both a political and legal challenge to the Kerala government's decision to order a Crime Branch probe into allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T., and her husband, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. The development marks a sharp escalation in the confrontation between the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led state government in Thiruvananthapuram.

CPI-M Calls It a Political Conspiracy

Govindan described the probe order as politically motivated, alleging that the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were acting in concert against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M). “There is no case in this. This is nothing but a deal between the BJP and the Congress. We will fight it both legally and politically,” Govindan said. He further accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of engaging in partisan politics and alleged the central agency was being deployed against political opponents across states.

Govindan alleged that leaders who resisted the BJP were being threatened with imprisonment, and contended that the ED was now targeting Vijayan specifically to weaken the CPI-M. He also claimed that Riyas was being drawn into the matter as part of the same political strategy.

CPI-M Takes the Fight to the Streets

The party has decided to mobilise publicly over the issue. The Thiruvananthapuram district committee will organise a march to the Secretariat and hold protest demonstrations in the state capital. A separate protest march will be held in Kozhikode. This signals that the CPI-M intends to frame the probe as a statewide political attack rather than a narrow legal matter.

Riyas Denies Wrongdoing, Cites Congress Hypocrisy

Former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas said he was ready to face the probe with confidence. “Since I have done no wrong, I have nothing to fear,” he said. Riyas questioned the Congress-led government’s decision to act on the basis of an ED report, pointing out that Congress leaders had previously opposed ED investigations against their own party figures, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. “Across the country, political parties, especially the Congress, have opposed the investigation protocols of the ED. Now we have a Congress-led government here. Naturally, there will be a discussion on this,” Riyas said.

Riyas also alleged that false narratives were being constructed by naming individuals he claimed to have never met, and that witnesses were being intimidated during statement recording by the ED. He confirmed that lawyers’ notices had already been issued against what he described as fabricated reports.

How the Probe Was Ordered

The Crime Branch probe was set in motion on Tuesday morning, following a meeting between Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. Chennithala said the government had no option but to direct the state police chief to proceed, citing clear apex court references mandating an investigation. The government moved after the Advocate General advised that an inquiry could be conducted if the ED report disclosed a cognisable offence. The Director General of Police (DGP) will now determine whether to conduct a preliminary inquiry or register an First Information Report (FIR).

The ED had raised allegations relating to financial transactions involving CMRL, Exalogic Solutions, and associated entities, seeking action against Vijayan, Veena, and Riyas. The CPI-M has categorically rejected these allegations and signalled it will make the probe a centrepiece of its political opposition going forward.

What Comes Next

The DGP’s decision on whether to register an FIR or begin a preliminary inquiry will be closely watched, as it will determine the legal weight and trajectory of the case. With the CPI-M vowing street protests in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode while simultaneously preparing a legal challenge, Kerala’s political temperature is set to rise sharply in the coming days.