ED registers case against 28 for assaulting officials during raid at Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence
A vehicle of Enforcement Directorate officials was blocked by assailants as they were leaving after they raided the residence of Keralam Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram in May 2026. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against all 28 accused, including CPI(M) and Student’s Federation of India (SFI) activists, who were earlier booked by the state police for allegedly assaulting ED officials during a search operation at the Thiruvananthapuramals (CM) residence of former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the Ex-Cotile Limited payment. case in May.
The raid was conducted on May 27, 2026 at the then rented house of Mr. Vijayan, where his daughter T. Veena, an accused in the case, was staying. The ED officials were allegedly attacked while returning by car after the raid was over, with a private vehicle hired by the agency sustaining significant damage. Subsequently, the Thiruvananthapuram Museum Police registered a criminal case charging her with attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of public property and obstruction of government officials.
“All those named in the police first information report will be charged in our case as well. Charges will be framed against them in the police case, which also includes scheduled offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),” ED sources said.
On 28 June 2026, the state government dropped T. Geena Kumari as the prosecutor in the case at the request of the Thiruvananthapuram City Police, citing her inability to oppose the bail application of the ninth accused, Harish Kumar, a worker of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). A. Santhosh Kumar replaced her as Special Public Prosecutor.
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Meanwhile, the ED recently submitted a detailed report to the state police chief seeking registration of a separate first information report under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant laws against Mr. Vijayan, former PA Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas, and Ms. Veena, who is Mr. Riyas’ wife, in the CMRL-Exalogic payment case. The report accused Mr Vijayan of accepting a bribe of ₹3.28 crore through his daughter.
Published – 9 Sep 2026 10:34 IST