Pinarayi Vijayan vs Mamkootathil row heats up after CMRL-Exalogic FIR
Synopsis
On the very day the VACB registered an FIR naming Pinarayi Vijayan as first accused in the CMRL-Exalogic case, the former Kerala CM took a swipe at expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil in the Assembly — and got a pointed reply: 'First go and seek bail for yourself, your daughter and your son-in-law.' The timing could hardly have been more damaging.
Key Takeaways
The VACB registered an FIR in the CMRL-Exalogic case on 12 October 2026 , naming former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan as the first accused and his daughter T.
Veena as the second accused.
Vijayan alleged in the Kerala Assembly that an expelled Congress member was controlling the party in Adoor and influencing police operations there.
Expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil hit back on social media, telling Vijayan to focus on securing bail for himself, daughter Veena , and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas .
Mamkootathil was expelled from Congress last year following sexual misconduct allegations by three women; he was arrested in one case and obtained anticipatory bail in the other two.
Ongoing clashes between DYFI and Youth Congress workers in Adoor, Pathanamthitta district form the backdrop of the political row.
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and expelled Congress leader Rahul Mamkootathil traded sharp barbs on Monday, 12 October 2026, as their long-running political rivalry escalated on the same day the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered an FIR in the CMRL-Exalogic case, naming Vijayan as the first accused and his daughter, T. Veena, as the second accused.
Mamkootathil's Counterattack
In a strongly worded social media post, Mamkootathil fired back at Vijayan's remarks in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, telling the former Chief Minister to focus on securing bail for himself, his daughter Veena, and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas in the case involving alleged receipt of illegal money. 'Mr Vijayan, do not make me recount your history and that of your kitchen cabinet,' Mamkootathil said, pointedly rejecting Vijayan's insinuation that he was pulling strings within the Congress and influencing police in Adoor, Pathanamthitta district.
Mamkootathil insisted that the Congress unit in Adoor was governed by its elected MLA and leaders of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), District Congress Committee, and block committees — not by him. He also stated that the police in the area were accountable to their own command chain, including the Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Circle Inspector.
What Vijayan Said in the Assembly
Vijayan, without naming Mamkootathil directly in his Assembly speech, alleged that a person who was no longer a Congress member had entered and attacked a police vehicle during a night march in Adoor and was directing police operations there. The remarks came against the backdrop of continuing clashes between Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Youth Congress workers in the town. Several individuals, including Mamkootathil and Communist Party of India (Marxist) Adoor area Secretary Manoj, were reportedly injured in the violence.
The CMRL-Exalogic FIR and the Veena Connection
The VACB's decision to register the FIR on the same day sharpened Mamkootathil's attack considerably. He questioned why DYFI and Students' Federation of India (SFI) activists faced police action and imprisonment over allegations connected to payments made to Veena's company, and demanded clarity on what connection she had with the CPI-M. Vijayan is named the first accused in the case; Veena, the second. The FIR's timing, coinciding with the Assembly exchange, has added fuel to an already combustible political standoff.
Background: A Rivalry with Deep Roots
The two leaders have sparred publicly since the days when Mamkootathil served as an MLA and Vijayan was Chief Minister. Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress last year following allegations of sexual misconduct by three women; he was subsequently arrested in one of those cases and spent several days in judicial custody before securing bail. He obtained anticipatory bail in the remaining two cases. His continued political activism despite expulsion has made him a recurring flashpoint in Kerala politics. This latest exchange adds another contentious chapter to that history, with both leaders now facing legal and political pressures of their own — setting the stage for further escalation as court proceedings in the CMRL-Exalogic case move forward.
Point of View
Despite his expulsion and legal troubles, retains enough street-level influence in Adoor to make the CPI-M genuinely uneasy — otherwise, a sitting ex-CM would not be raising him in an Assembly speech. The deeper story is not the personal feud, but what it reveals: that law-enforcement credibility in Pathanamthitta has become contested terrain between two leaders, both of whom are themselves facing serious legal proceedings.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CMRL-Exalogic case?
The CMRL-Exalogic case involves allegations of illegal money transactions, in which the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR on 12 October 2026 naming former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the first accused and his daughter T. Veena as the second accused. The case also implicates Vijayan's son-in-law Mohammed Riyas, according to Mamkootathil's public statement.
Why did Pinarayi Vijayan raise Mamkootathil's name in the Assembly?
Vijayan alleged, without naming him directly, that a person no longer affiliated with the Congress was controlling the party's unit in Adoor, Pathanamthitta, and influencing local police operations. His remarks came amid ongoing clashes between DYFI and Youth Congress workers in Adoor.
Why was Rahul Mamkootathil expelled from Congress?
Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress last year following sexual misconduct allegations raised by three women. He was arrested in one of the cases and spent several days in judicial custody before securing bail, and obtained anticipatory bail in the remaining two cases.
Who is T. Veena and what is her alleged role in the case?
T. Veena is Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter and is named the second accused in the CMRL-Exalogic FIR registered by the VACB. Mamkootathil alleged that DYFI and SFI activists faced police action over payments linked to her company, and questioned her connection to the CPI-M.
What is the current situation in Adoor?
Adoor in Pathanamthitta district has seen continuing clashes between DYFI and Youth Congress workers. Several individuals, including Mamkootathil and CPI-M Adoor area Secretary Manoj, were reportedly injured in the violence, making it the immediate flashpoint for the political confrontation between Vijayan and Mamkootathil.
