Should Chief Minister Vijayan's Son be Questioned by the ED?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Anil Akkara calls for immediate ED action against Vivek Kiran Vijayan.
- Concerns raised about the transparency of the investigation.
- Political implications emerge with accusations of secrecy.
- CPI(M) faces scrutiny for its handling of the situation.
- Public trust in investigative bodies is at stake.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 (NationPress) Former Congress MLA Anil Akkara has lodged a formal complaint urging the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to promptly question Vivek Kiran Vijayan, the son of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, regarding the Life Mission money laundering scandal.
The complaint, directed to the Union Finance Ministry and the ED Director, points out the agency's significant delay in action following a summons issued to Vivek in 2023.
This matter gained renewed attention on Saturday when reports surfaced indicating that Vivek had been notified by the ED about two years ago, yet no subsequent actions were taken.
Akkara's complaint raises concerns about the integrity and transparency of the investigation due to this delay.
The controversy originated from allegations made in 2023 by accused gold smuggler Swapna Suresh, who directly implicated the Chief Minister’s son in purported kickbacks related to the Life Mission housing initiative.
This case previously resulted in the arrest of the Chief Minister's former Principal Secretary, M. Sivasankar, based on testimonies from co-accused and Unitac MD Santosh Eapen.
While the ED has taken swift action against other accused parties, no noticeable progress has been made regarding the summons issued to Vivek, who has not yet appeared before the agency.
Amid this political turmoil, reports indicate that the fact of Vivek receiving the summons was never addressed in official CPI(M) discussions, raising questions about the concealment of this issue.
CPI(M) leaders have persistently accused the Union government of utilizing the ED to target opposition figures but have not clarified why the notice to the Chief Minister’s son was kept confidential.
Akkara has called on central authorities to operate “without fear or favour” to guarantee the law is applied equally.
The Opposition is amplifying its call for an expedited investigation, warning that any selective enforcement could erode public confidence in investigative bodies.
Following this revelation, senior Congress leaders expressed astonishment over the secrecy maintained by Vijayan and demanded accountability from him. They described this situation as a “classic example” of a suspected secret agreement between the BJP and CPI(M), while noting that BJP leadership has remained silent on the matter.