CPI(M) workers take to the streets in Kozhikode against ED raid at Riyas’ house

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] workers took to the streets in Kozhikode on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted a raid on the residential premises of former Minister for Public Works and Beypore MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas at Kottuli in the city.

It was part of similar exercises carried out by the Central agency at multiple locations in Kerala and Karnataka on properties related to Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter and Mr. Riyas’s wife T. Veena, a former IT consultant. The ED’s case is that Ms. Veena’s now defunct firm Exalogic Solutions had received monthly allowances from the private mining company Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited between 2017 and 2021, allegedly without rendering any tangible service. 

According to sources, the raid began around 7.15 a.m. when Mr. Riyas’ father P.M. Abdul Khader, a former police official, and mother Aishabi were at home along with two of their grandchildren. Mr. Riyas was not at home then. Soon after news of the raid broke on the media and social media platforms, CPI(M) workers started gathering outside the residence where Central paramilitary personnel and Kerala Police officials were posted to provide security to ED officials.

Mr. Riyas, meanwhile, came up with a social media post against the raid. “Attack us from all sides, but we will not bow down before the Sangh Parivar. Will fight till the last breath,” the post on Facebook said. Many CPI(M) activists and supporters commented below, extending their support.

CPI(M) workers led by M. Mehboob, party district secretary, later took out a protest march from the area. He told the media that the raids were politically motivated. “This is not such a big deal for us. The CPI(M) has overcome much bigger problems... Why are they raiding Mr. Riyas’ house? We will not be cowed down by such tactics of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar,” Mr. Mehboob said. The CPI(M) workers later took out another protest march in Kozhikode city. Meanwhile, some workers were seen staging a sit-in outside the house.

Thereafter, a large number of party activists, including Mr. Mehboob and senior leaders such as P. Mohanan and A. Pradeepkumar and Democratic Youth Federation of India State president V. Vaseef, again assembled there. Though Mr. Mehboob and Mr. Riyas’ lawyer, C.M. Jamsheer, demanded that they be given an opportunity to talk to those inside the house, it was turned down by the officials.

This prompted party workers to raise slogans against the Union government and the ED. CPI(M) leaders claimed that the basic human rights of Mr. Riyas’ family members, including senior citizens and children, were being violated. However, around 2 p.m. the ED team completed the raid and left. CPI(M) leaders said officials had given in writing that no documents could be recovered from the premises. The ED team included Assistant Director Dharmendra Chouhan.

Mr. Riyas later told the media that he was willing to even lay down his life for the sake of protecting secularism. Any attempt to browbeat the CPI(M) through tactics such as ED raids would not be successful, he added. The Left Democratic Front has called for a protest meeting in the city on Thursday evening.