ED raids Pinarayi Vijayan's residence in CMRL-Exalogic case; CPI(M) cries vendetta
Synopsis
The ED descended on 10 locations tied to former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL-Exalogic case — and the CPI(M) fired back hard, alleging a BJP-Congress conspiracy and flagging the suspiciously convenient timing: just one day after Kerala CM Satheesan met PM Modi in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
The ED searched 10 locations linked to former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on 27 May 2025 in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
Searches covered Vijayan's Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur residences, CMRL offices, and the home of former minister P.
Mohammed Riyas in Kozhikode .
The ED is recording the statement of Veena Vijayan , whose firm Exalogic allegedly received payments from CMRL for services not rendered.
The action follows a Kerala High Court order based on SFIO findings into alleged CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions.
Jayarajan alleged a joint BJP-Congress operation, pointing to the raids occurring a day after CM Satheesan met PM Modi .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 27 May conducted coordinated searches at 10 locations linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic monthly payment case, triggering a sharp political storm in the state. CPI(M) leaders immediately denounced the action as a politically motivated offensive orchestrated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with alleged Congress backing.
What the ED Searched
ED teams arrived at Vijayan's rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram early Wednesday while he was present on the premises. Simultaneous searches were carried out at his Kannur residence, the offices of CMRL, the residence of CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha, and the Kozhikode residence of former minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas. The agency is also recording the statement of Veena Vijayan, the former chief minister's daughter, over allegations that her firm Exalogic received payments from CMRL for services allegedly not rendered.
Legal Backdrop
The ED action follows a Kerala High Court order permitting the agency to proceed with its probe, based on findings by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into alleged financial transactions between CMRL and Exalogic. The matter is also reportedly sub judice before a Delhi court, a point CPI(M) leaders raised to question the urgency of Wednesday's raids.
CPI(M)'s Political Counterattack
Veteran CPI(M) leader and former MLA P. Jayarajan was among the first senior party figures to reach Vijayan's Kannur residence after news of the raids broke. He alleged a coordinated effort by the BJP and Congress, invoking a past statement by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioning why Vijayan had not been arrested.
'All will remember Rahul Gandhi's statement asking why Pinarayi Vijayan was not arrested. Now, with the political situation changing in Kerala, there is an organised attack against Vijayan,' Jayarajan told reporters.
He also flagged the timing of the raids, noting they came barely a day after Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. 'The ED is being used to target all those who oppose the BJP. This is part of a new narrative being pushed using central agencies,' he added.
Riyas Responds, Workers Mobilise
Former minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas struck back through a Facebook post, declaring that he and his family would not 'bow before the Sangh Parivar'. 'Encircle and attack us if you want, but we will not kneel before the Sangh Parivar. We will fight till our last breath,' he wrote. Meanwhile, CPI(M) workers gathered outside several of the searched locations, raising slogans against the ED and warning of sustained protests if the targeting of Vijayan continued.
What Comes Next
The ED is expected to formally record statements and analyse documents seized during the searches. The CMRL-Exalogic case, which centres on alleged irregular payments to Veena Vijayan's firm, has been a persistent flashpoint in Kerala politics. With assembly elections on the horizon and the CPI(M) already mobilising its cadre, the political fallout from Wednesday's raids is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
Regardless of the merits of the underlying case. That the CMRL-Exalogic matter is already before courts makes the urgency of simultaneous multi-city raids harder for the agency to explain on procedural grounds alone. What is often missed in the political noise: the Kerala High Court itself authorised this probe based on SFIO findings, meaning the legal basis is not simply a BJP directive. The real question is whether the ED's pace and optics serve the cause of accountability or the cause of electoral disruption — and in Kerala, those two things are rarely separable.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CMRL-Exalogic case that prompted the ED raids?
The CMRL-Exalogic case involves allegations that Exalogic, a firm linked to Veena Vijayan — daughter of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan — received monthly payments from CMRL for services that were allegedly not rendered. The ED is probing these financial transactions based on SFIO findings, following a Kerala High Court order permitting the investigation.
Why did the ED raid Pinarayi Vijayan's residence on 27 May?
The ED conducted searches at 10 locations, including Vijayan's residences in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, as part of its ongoing CMRL-Exalogic investigation. The Kerala High Court had earlier allowed the agency to continue its probe based on SFIO findings into alleged irregular payments.
What has the CPI(M) said about the raids?
CPI(M) leaders, including former MLA P. Jayarajan, alleged the raids were a politically motivated attack backed jointly by the BJP and Congress. They flagged the timing — one day after Kerala CM V. D. Satheesan met PM Modi — as evidence of a coordinated campaign against the party.
Who is Veena Vijayan and why is she being questioned?
Veena Vijayan is the daughter of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The ED is recording her statement over allegations that her firm, Exalogic, received payments from CMRL for services allegedly not rendered — the central allegation in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
What is the legal status of the CMRL-Exalogic matter?
The case is sub judice before a Delhi court, according to CPI(M) leaders. The Kerala High Court has separately allowed the ED to continue its investigation based on findings by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) into the alleged CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions.
