ED Conducts Raids at Former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's Residences in CMRL Money Laundering Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted coordinated raids at around 10-12 locations across Kerala, including former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's residences in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm owned by Vijayan's daughter, Veena. The probe centers on alleged illegal payments totaling Rs 1.72 crore made by CMRL to Exalogic without corresponding services. The Kerala High Court recently dismissed petitions seeking to quash the ED probe, allowing the investigation to proceed. The CPI(M) condemned the raids as politically motivated, while opposition parties called for accountability. The case remains politically sensitive and under multiple agency investigations, including the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).