ED Escalates Corruption Probe with Multi-City Raids Involving Prominent Left Leader

The Enforcement Directorate launched extensive searches across ten strategic locations, directly targeting a veteran political leader’s residences as part of an accelerating investigation into illegal financial transactions.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Central financial investigators initiated synchronized multi-city raids at ten distinct premises on Wednesday, including the properties of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The expansive operation, executed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), signifies a sharp escalation in a high-profile corporate-political payment probe that has gripped regional politics.

The coordinated searches began early in the morning, focusing on Vijayan’s rented accommodation in the state capital, his family home in Kannur, and the residence of his son-in-law, Muhammed Riyas, in Kozhikode. Concurrently, separate teams targeted the offices and private residences of top executives associated with Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) in Kochi and Bengaluru. The enforcement action comes less than twenty-four hours after the High Court dismissed a writ petition filed by the private mining entity, which had sought to quash the ongoing central investigation.

The legal matrix traces back to an administrative audit revealing that CMRL allegedly facilitated illegal monthly payments totaling approximately ₹1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, an IT consultancy firm owned by the politician’s daughter, T Veena. Financial regulators contend that while formal service agreements existed between 2017 and 2020 for software support and management consultancy, no actual operations or services were rendered by the IT firm.

Political ripples surfaced immediately following the sweeps, with Opposition leadership denouncing the moves as a targeted strategy orchestrated by federal authorities to destabilize independent political voices. Conversely, legal watchdogs note that the probe stems from extensive findings compiled by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and previous Income

Tax data, which red-flagged systemic, unverified payouts to several public figures. As tracking teams continue reviewing seized documents and digital logs, central authorities maintain that the focus remains entirely on unearthing the underlying money trail and verifying the accountability of the suspect transactions.

Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune