Kerala HC rejects CBI probe into ED attack near Pinarayi Vijayan's residence
Synopsis
The Kerala High Court has shut down a PIL seeking a CBI inquiry into the alleged attack on ED officials at former CM Pinarayi Vijayan's rented Thiruvananthapuram residence — citing satisfactory state police progress, 25 arrests, and 44 witness statements. The ruling keeps a politically sensitive case squarely in state hands, at least for now.
Key Takeaways
The Kerala High Court on 4 July 2025 declined to order a CBI probe into the alleged attack on ED officials on 27 May .
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar disposed of the PIL, citing satisfactory state police progress.
25 accused persons have been identified, arrested, and sent to judicial custody; statements from 44 witnesses have been recorded.
The case is registered at Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram under the BNS and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act .
The state denied allegations of bias, intelligence failure, trade union interference, and tampering with digital evidence.
The Kerala High Court on Friday, 4 July 2025 declined to transfer to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the probe into the alleged attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a search operation at the rented residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 May. A Division Bench found the state police investigation to be progressing satisfactorily and disposed of the Public Interest Litigation seeking the handover.
What the Court Ruled
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar disposed of the PIL after reviewing a detailed status report submitted by the state government. 'Based on the report filed by the state, there is satisfactory progress in the investigation. We do not find any reason to direct an investigation by CBI at this stage,' the bench stated while closing the petition.
The court had earlier directed the state to place on record all steps taken after the registration of the FIR. In compliance, the Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram City, filed a comprehensive statement detailing the probe's progress.
State of the Investigation
According to the status report, a case has been registered at the Museum Police Station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Investigators have gathered extensive scientific, forensic, photographic, and videographic evidence from the scene, including glass fragments, soil samples, and other material objects.
So far, 25 accused persons have been identified, arrested, and remanded to judicial custody, while the investigation continues. Statements from 44 witnesses have been recorded, and notices have been issued to several media organisations seeking video footage of the incident. Medical records of both the injured ED officials and the accused have been collected.
State Denies Bias and Intelligence Failure
The state government categorically rejected the allegations raised in the PIL. It maintained that there was no prior intelligence input about the incident and therefore no intelligence failure. Officials stated that police personnel were deployed promptly after receiving information about the disturbance and that their timely intervention prevented further escalation.
The state also denied claims that the investigation was biased, that influential persons were being shielded, that trade unions had interfered with the probe, or that digital evidence had been tampered with — describing all such allegations as unsupported by evidence.
Background and Significance
The 27 May incident drew national attention when ED officials conducting a search at the rented residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter in Thiruvananthapuram allegedly came under attack. The episode raised questions about the security of central agency personnel operating in the state and triggered political controversy, with opposition parties demanding a CBI inquiry.
This comes amid a broader pattern of friction between central investigative agencies and state governments across India, where jurisdictional disputes over probe transfers have repeatedly reached the courts. The Kerala High Court's ruling, for now, keeps the investigation firmly in state police hands. How swiftly the remaining suspects are identified and charged will determine whether calls for a CBI handover are revived.
Point of View
44 witness statements, forensic evidence — but it does not settle the political question. The attack on central agency officials at the residence of a former chief minister is not an ordinary law-and-order matter; it tests whether state police can credibly investigate an incident with direct political proximity to the ruling establishment. The court's 'at this stage' qualifier is significant: it leaves the door open for a future CBI transfer if the investigation stalls or if charges against key accused are diluted. The real accountability test comes at the chargesheet stage, not the arrest stage.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Kerala High Court reject the CBI probe demand in the ED attack case?
The court found that the state police investigation was progressing satisfactorily, with 25 arrests, 44 witness statements, and extensive forensic evidence collected. The Division Bench stated it saw no reason to transfer the probe to the CBI at this stage.
What happened during the ED attack on 27 May in Thiruvananthapuram?
ED officials conducting a search at the rented residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter in Thiruvananthapuram were allegedly attacked on 27 May. The incident triggered a PIL seeking a CBI investigation into the assault on central agency personnel.
How many people have been arrested in the ED attack case so far?
As of the status report filed before the Kerala High Court, 25 accused persons have been identified, arrested, and remanded to judicial custody. Efforts to identify additional suspects using video evidence are continuing.
What charges have been filed in the ED attack case?
A case has been registered at Museum Police Station, Thiruvananthapuram, under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Can a CBI probe be ordered later if the state investigation falters?
Yes. The court disposed of the PIL with the observation that there is no reason for a CBI transfer 'at this stage,' implying the door remains open. If the investigation stalls or evidence of bias emerges, a fresh petition seeking a CBI handover could be filed.
