ED raids on Pinarayi Vijayan: CPI(M) says will resist politically and legally; party workers protest across Kerala

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers came out on the streets across Kerala on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) to protest against the Directorate of Enforcement’s (ED) raids on the houses of former Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan. Even as the raid was ongoing at his residence in Thiruvananthapuram, party workers gathered in large numbers raising slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government and the ED.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) State Secretary M.V.Govindan said that the raids are “the latest instance of a planned attack” against the CPI(M) by the Sangh Parivar and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The party will strongly resist such attempts politically and legally, with the support of the masses, he said.

The raids are part of the long-running inquiry into whether Mr. Vijayan’s daughter and former IT consultant, T. Veena’s now-defunct firm, Exalogic, had received sizeable monthly retainers from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), a private mining company, during the 2017-2021 period allegedly without rendering any tangible service.

Mr. Govindan said that several Central agencies, including the Income Tax department, Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and the ED had carried out investigations in the past. The High Court as well as the Supreme Court had in the past dismissed these allegations, he said.

(The Kerala High Court had dismissed a petition seeking a court-monitored probe against Mr Vijayan and his daughter, Ms. Veena, in connection with the latter’s financial transactions with CMRL as the mining firm’s IT consultant during the 2017-2021 period.

(The High Court found no evidence that established a cognisable offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Later in October 2025, the Supreme Court dismissed Congress leader Mathew Kuzhalnadan’s same plea and cautioned him against using courts as platforms for political battles.)

Mr. Govindan accused the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) of being hand-in-glove with the BJP “as the Central agencies hunted major Opposition leaders across the country.”

‘Two UDF Ministers’ names also came up’

“The Congress’ national leaders came to Kerala and asked why Mr.Vijayan was not being arrested. It was the Congress’ petition which served as the basis for former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. The Delhi High Court later dumped these allegations as baseless. Similar attempts are now being made in Kerala to target Mr.Vijayan and the CPI(M). Two UDF Ministers’ names also came up in the CMRL transactions. However there has been no case or investigation against them. People suspect that Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday (Tuesday), and the UDF are supportive of these raids. The Congress has been alleging a deal between the CPI(M) and the BJP, but now the real deal between the Congress and the BJP has been proven,” he said.

Mr. Govindan questioned the basis on which the ED detained Mr. Vijayan, noting that he is not an accused in the case.

“This is a politically motivated attack against the party. No FIR even exists in this case. The High Court only said that the investigation prior to the registration of an FIR can continue. The party would not have intervened if this was a case against Ms.Veena alone, but here an attempt is being made to arraign Mr.Vijayan as an accused and through him attack the party,” he said.

Mr. Govindan said the CPI(M) would organise torch-lit protests at all party branch committees across the State on Wednesday evening against the attempt to target Mr.Vijayan and the party. Mass protests are also being held at all local, area and district levels.

Tharoor refutes Brittas’ charges

Meanwhile, Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor, MP, has refuted CPI(M) leader and MP John Brittas’ contention that the Congress actively aided the ED raids on Pinarayi Vijayan.

Stalin slams raids

Meanwhile, DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has condemned the ED raids.

“Such actions once again raise serious concerns over the growing pattern of central agencies being weaponised against Opposition leaders. Incidentally, this also exposes the hollowness of the reckless allegations made by some Congress leaders who repeatedly questioned why Pinarayi Vijayan had ‘not yet been targeted by the BJP,” Mr. Stalin said.

(with inputs from Tamil Nadu Bureau)