CPI(M) to fight legally and politically against ‘politically motivated’ move by ED to book Pinarayi, Riyas in Kerala corruption case

CPI(M) State Secretary MV Govindan. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) State Secretary MV Govindan on Tuesday reiterated the party’s stand that the Enforcement Directorate’s case in the Exalogic-CMRL deal was politically motivated and targeted Opposition Leader and Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law and CPI(M) State Secretary member Rio Mohamas.

He said the party would fight the case legally and politically. At the national level, the Congress was against the misuse of central agencies for political purposes, but whether the UDF government in Kerala, under a cloud over its alleged tie-up with the BJP, bound the ED and opened an anti-corruption case against Mr Vijayan and Mr Riyas was something the state was waiting for, Mr Govindan added.

Explaining the genesis of the case, he said that ever since the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) started investigating it, the CPI(M) State Committee knew who the real target was and took a strong stand against him. According to the agency’s claim that it came across a diary containing donations of ₹182 crore from Kochi-based CMRL, the list contained many names, including those of the late Oommen Chandy, current Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty. Mr. Vijayan’s daughter T. Veena’s company received money in return for services rendered by CMRL and also paid tax on the same. The fact that it was singled out and investigated clearly smacks of political vendetta, Mr. Govindan argued.

He said it was ironic that the ED’s letter seeking to register a corruption case was now before Mr. Chennithala.

Mr. Govindan also argued that for the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act to stand, there should be something to indicate that Mr. Vijayan, as Chief Minister, had extended any undue favors to the company. But there was none and the charge of mala fide was raised only because Ms. Veena was the daughter of Mr. Vijayan.

Mr. Govindan said that while Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan and BJP leader Shone George moved the court against these allegations, the court found no merit in them. The plea against the “baseless” findings of the SFIO probe was before the Delhi High Court and the ED’s latest move was based on the realization that the case would soon be dismissed, he claimed.

Referring to the Karuvannur Service Co-operative Bank case, Mr. Govindan accused the ED of approving real culprits to fix senior CPI(M) leaders and argued that the same modus operandi could be behind the case depending on the alleged statement made by a CMRL employee.

Mr Govindan said the central ages were used to hunt down and imprison former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal but the court released him. In states like Assam and West Bengal, these agencies have been weaponized to lead to political defections, Mr. Govindan said.

Published – 8 Sep 2026 21:07 IST