ED widens Veena Vijayan probe, searches Riyas associates in Kozhikode; CPI-M cries foul
Synopsis
The ED's Veena Vijayan probe has moved into new territory — the inner circle of her husband, former minister Mohammed Riyas. Searches at nine Kozhikode locations, a recovered diary, and two CPI-M members under scrutiny signal the agency is building a financial map that runs through the party's own district leadership. The CPI-M's public pushback, with the state secretary and district chief both intervening, underscores how politically combustible this case has become.
Key Takeaways
The ED searched nine locations in Kozhikode on 18 August in the Veena Vijayan 'monthly payment' case .
Four individuals — Nandulal , P.
Nikhil , Shaijal , and Faijas — described as friends or associates of former minister Mohammed Riyas were targeted.
The ED obtained leads on these individuals from a diary belonging to Veena Vijayan , recovered in May .
Nikhil is a member of the CPI-M Kozhikode district Secretariat and was questioned during the search.
CPI-M state Secretary M.V.
Govindan called the searches a 'smoke screen' aimed at targeting the party.
This is the third major round of ED searches in Kerala in connection with the Exalogic -linked case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday, 18 August significantly widened its investigation into the 'monthly payment' case linked to Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, conducting searches at nine locations across Kozhikode — including the residences and offices of four individuals identified as friends or associates of her husband, former minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) MLA Mohammed Riyas. The operation drew sharp condemnation from the CPI-M, which accused the agency of deliberate political targeting.
Key Developments in the Search Operation
A four-member ED team led by an Assistant Director conducted the searches, which targeted residences, offices, and other establishments linked to the probe. Among those under the agency's scanner are Nandulal, a former DTPC destination coordinator and close associate of Riyas; P. Nikhil, a former DYFI district Secretary now engaged in business and heading a firm called Solice, who is also a member of the CPI-M's Kozhikode district Secretariat; and two others identified as Shaijal and Faijas, described as Riyas's friends. The ED also searched Nikhil's ancestral home at Farook in Kozhikode.
How the Probe Trail Led Here
According to information emerging from the investigation, the ED obtained details about Nikhil and the other individuals from a diary belonging to Veena Vijayan, recovered in May when the agency searched the rented home of Pinarayi Vijayan — where Veena also reportedly resides — in the state capital. Veena reportedly told investigators that the individuals were friends of Riyas, prompting a closer examination of their financial links. This is the third major round of ED searches in Kerala in connection with the case, which centres on the alleged movement of money from Exalogic, the company associated with Veena Vijayan.
What the CPI-M Said
CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan accused the ED of deliberately manufacturing suspicion against the party. 'Through this, they can try to create a smoke screen. This is meant to target our party,' Govindan told reporters. His remarks were followed by a show of solidarity from the Kozhikode district leadership. CPI-M district Secretary M. Mehboob visited Nikhil's flat while the search was under way and confirmed that Nikhil was being questioned by the agency. 'We will face this politically as well as legally,' Mehboob said, alleging that both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress were using the ED for political purposes.
Political Dimension and Broader Context
The widening probe has acquired a distinct political dimension given the connections of those searched to Mohammed Riyas, the CPI-M MLA from Beypore. The agency's scrutiny of his circle follows repeated questioning and searches tied to the financial dealings involving Exalogic and CMRL. Notably, two of the four individuals searched are CPI-M members, heightening the party's sensitivity around the case.
What Comes Next
With the latest round of searches yielding additional digital and financial material, the ED is expected to question more individuals and trace the financial links of those now under its scanner in the days ahead. The case continues to cast a long shadow over the CPI-M's political standing in Kerala ahead of the state's electoral cycle.
Point of View
A sitting CPI-M MLA. The diary as an evidentiary anchor is significant: it suggests the agency is working outward from a documented record, not fishing. The CPI-M's reflex response — state secretary, district secretary, and party counsel mobilised within hours — reflects not just political anxiety but the recognition that two of its own district-level functionaries are now formally in the frame. The real question is whether the financial links being traced connect back to Exalogic transactions in a legally actionable way, or whether the probe remains, as the party insists, a political exercise dressed in enforcement clothing.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Veena Vijayan 'monthly payment' case?
The case involves allegations of irregular financial transactions linked to Exalogic , a company associated with Veena Vijayan , daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan . The ED is investigating the alleged movement of money through the company, with the probe also examining links to CMRL .
Why did the ED search associates of Mohammed Riyas?
The ED reportedly obtained details about the four individuals from a diary belonging to Veena Vijayan , recovered during a May search. Veena reportedly told investigators the individuals were friends of her husband Mohammed Riyas , prompting the agency to examine their financial connections to the case.
Who are the key figures searched in Kozhikode?
The four individuals searched are Nandulal (former DTPC destination coordinator), P. Nikhil (former DYFI district Secretary, now heading firm Solice, and a CPI-M Kozhikode district Secretariat member), Shaijal , and Faijas — all described as associates or friends of Mohammed Riyas .
How has the CPI-M responded to the ED searches?
CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan called the searches a 'smoke screen' designed to target the party. District Secretary M. Mehboob visited the search site and pledged both political and legal support, alleging the raids were politically motivated by the BJP and Congress.
What is the significance of this being the third round of searches?
This is the third major round of ED searches in Kerala in the case, indicating a sustained and expanding investigation. Each round has broadened the agency's scope — from Exalogic's financials to Veena Vijayan's residence and now to the social and political network around her husband Mohammed Riyas .
