CPI(M) cadres stage protests after ED raids at Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in Kannur

CPI(M) workers staged a strong protest march following on going raid by the Enforcement Directorate at the house of Opposition leader and former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s house at Pinarayi in Kannur in connection with the money laundering investigation into financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic Solutions.

The CPI(M) leadership strongly condemned the searches, challenging that the BJP-led union government was using Central agencies to target opposition leaders through politically motivated actions. Senior party leaders in Pinarayi said the ED action amounted to “retaliatory politics” and an “opposition which hunt “ and asserted that the party would resist the move politically and legally.

The ED team reached the residence around 6:00 a.m. and began the search by 7:00 a.m. Initial information suggested that there are five officials who are part of the search team. At the time of the raid, only the caretaker of the house and the local CPI(M) secretary were reportedly present inside the residence.

As the news of the raid spread around 7:00 a.m. CPI(M) workers gathered near the residence in protest. Police personnel were heavily deployed in the area and shifted party workers from the narrow approach road leading to the house to the main road to prevent tension from escalating.

Senior CPI(M) leaders, including district leaders, were expected to arrive at the site as the protest intensified. Party leaders stated that an emergency state leadership and secretariat meeting would be held at 10:00 a.m. to decide further protest programs across Kerala.

The rates are part of the ongoing need investigation into the legend financial dealings involving CMRL and Exalogic solutions, a case that has triggered political controversy in Kerala.