Former Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan (file photo) | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on early this (Wednesday) morning raided the Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram residences of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a dramatic escalation of the probe into case involving Cochin Minerals and Rutiles (CMRL). 

The searches came a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed a petition filed by CMRL seeking to quash the ED investigation. At the centre of the case is Exalogic, the now-defunct firm owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena, a former IT consultant. Investigators are examining allegations that Exalogic received substantial monthly payments from CMRL between 2017 and 2021 without providing corresponding services.

SFIO probing case

According to the probe, CMRL allegedly transferred nearly ₹1.72 crore to Exalogic under the guise of “IT and marketing consultancy services.” The matter is also under investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), agency under the Union Ministry of Corporate affairs tasked with probing complex financial fraud.

ED officials, backed by armed CISF personnel, began coordinated searches at daybreak, sealing off multiple premises, including Vijayan’s recently rented residence at Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. Vijayan and members of his family were reportedly present during the operation.

More places raided

The agency also conducted raids at the residence of Sasidharan Kartha, Managing Director of CMRL, as well as the company’s office in Aluva. Reports said ED officials recorded Vijayan’s statement during the searches.

In all, the ED carried out operations at 12 locations across Kerala, including the Kozhikode residence of PA Mohamed Riyas, Veena’s husband and former state minister, intensifying political scrutiny around one of the state’s most closely watched financial investigations.

Published on May 27, 2026