The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out raids at multiple locations linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter Veena Vijayan after the Kerala High Court lifted a stay on the agency’s money laundering investigation into the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) case. The searches reportedly covered around 10 locations across Kerala, including properties associated with the Vijayan family. The case revolves around allegations that Veena Vijayan’s software company, Exalogic Solutions, received nearly Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL without providing any actual services.

In a major observation, the Kerala High Court ruled that the Enforcement Directorate can continue a money laundering investigation even without the existence of a First Information Report (FIR). Justice T.R. Ravi also clarified that immunity granted under the Income Tax Act does not prevent proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court dismissed petitions filed by CMRL and its officials seeking to block the ED probe, calling the challenge premature and stating that the agency had the legal authority to summon individuals and examine documents linked to the case.

The investigation traces back to Income Tax Department raids conducted in 2019, during which authorities allegedly discovered inflated company expenses worth more than Rs 133 crore. According to the ED, part of the generated cash was allegedly used for illegal payments to politicians, political parties, media houses, and public servants. Following Wednesday’s raids, CPI(M) workers gathered outside Vijayan’s residence in Kannur and staged protests, accusing the BJP-led central government of misusing central agencies to target opposition leaders. Senior Left leaders claimed the action was politically motivated and compared it to previous investigations carried out against other opposition figures across the country.