Since early in the morning on Wednesday, May 27, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been carrying out raids at around 10 locations, including former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in Kannur and his rented residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
The raids are being caried out in connection with Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T’s, and her Bengaluru-based firm, Exalogic Solutions’ alleged deals with mining firm Cochin Ministers and Rutiles Limited (CMRL). The Bengaluru firm was raided as well, and Veena T’s statement has also been reportedly recorded by the ED.
Action by ED is followed by the Kerala High Court dismissing a plea yesterday, filed by CMRL seeking the quashing of ED proceedings. The investigation began after the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board found out that CMRL paid 1.72 crores to Vijayan’s daughter and her firm Exalogic Solutions.
The CPI(M), calling the raids ‘vindictive’ and a ‘targeted attack’, organized demonstrations against the same. Taking to social media, CPI(M) General Secretary, M A Baby, said that the CPI(M) denounced the raids conducted by the ED, and that it was a targeted attack on a top opposition leader by the BJP government. He further asked, ‘Is the UDF government complicit in this raid?’
The raids are being conducted a day after Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
