NE NEWS BUREAU
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MAY 27
In a dramatic escalation of the high-profile Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted coordinated raids at the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and multiple other locations across Kerala, sending shockwaves through the state’s political establishment.
The searches, carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), covered around 12 locations linked to Vijayan, his relatives and senior individuals connected to the ongoing probe into alleged illegal financial transactions involving private firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited.
VIDEO | Thiruvananthapuram: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at the residence of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others as part of its investigation into the CMRL money laundering case, officials said. Visuals from Pinarayi Vijayan's… pic.twitter.com/LqNDB1yUwh
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 27, 2026
Sources said ED officials reached Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram early Wednesday morning as part of simultaneous search operations launched across the state. Searches were also reportedly conducted at premises linked to former Kerala minister P. A. Mohammed Riyas, who is married to Vijayan’s daughter T. Veena.
- ED raids former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in major money laundering probe
- Simultaneous searches conducted across nearly 12 locations in Kerala
- Investigation linked to alleged Rs 1.72 crore payments to daughter Veena’s firm
- Action follows Kerala High Court refusing to quash ED proceedings in CMRL case
- Political tensions rise as probe intensifies against top Left leadership in Kerala
Alleged Payments to Daughter’s Firm Under Scanner
According to ED sources, the investigation revolves around allegations that private company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited made payments amounting to nearly Rs 1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm owned by Vijayan’s daughter T. Veena, during 2018 and 2019 despite allegedly receiving no corresponding services in return.
Investigators are probing whether the transactions constituted proceeds of crime and whether the payments were routed as part of a larger network involving alleged illegal financial dealings and political beneficiaries.
The ED had registered the money laundering case in 2024 following preliminary findings and related proceedings.
High Court Order Triggered Fresh ED Action
The raids come barely a day after the Kerala High Court reportedly dismissed a petition filed by CMRL seeking to quash the ED proceedings and summons issued in the case.
Legal observers believe the High Court’s refusal to intervene significantly strengthened the agency’s position, paving the way for Wednesday’s aggressive search operations.
Sources indicated that the ED is examining financial records, digital evidence, transaction trails and corporate documents linked to the alleged transactions.
Political Tremors Across Kerala
The development has triggered intense political reactions across Kerala, with opposition parties closely watching the evolving probe involving one of the state’s most influential political figures.
Pinarayi Vijayan, who recently served as Kerala Chief Minister before the 2026 Assembly elections and currently serves as a senior Left leader, has been at the centre of multiple political controversies involving financial and administrative matters in recent years.
The latest ED action is expected to intensify political confrontation between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the BJP-led Union Government in the coming days.
Massive Security and Search Operations Underway
Reports said teams of ED officials, supported by security personnel, simultaneously conducted searches at residences and offices linked to individuals associated with the investigation.
Though officials remained tight-lipped about specific recoveries or documents seized during the raids, sources indicated that the operation is part of a wider effort to map financial linkages and establish possible violations under anti-money laundering laws.
Political analysts believe the outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for Kerala politics ahead of future electoral battles and ongoing realignments within the state’s political landscape.
As the searches continue, all eyes are now on the ED’s next course of action and possible legal developments emerging from one of Kerala’s most politically sensitive investigations in recent years.
