Kerala mulls vigilance action against Pinarayi Vijayan, family after ED report
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is weighing whether to order a vigilance probe into allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and members of his family after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) flagged suspected irregularities in financial dealings linked to CMRL and Exalogic.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is expected to decide soon on the next steps, with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala set to join him in reviewing the ED’s report alongside a legal opinion from the Advocate General. Their consultations will likely determine if the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau should file a first information report straight away or begin with a preliminary inquiry.
The Advocate General’s advice, officials said, holds that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act can be entertained, citing prima facie material that warrants scrutiny of claims involving bribery and disproportionate assets. It also flags that receiving money through an intermediary or third party may, by itself, attract criminal liability.
The opinion is understood to suggest that payments allegedly routed to Veena Vijayan, the former chief minister’s daughter, should be examined to see if they were meant to benefit Pinarayi Vijayan. It further indicates that proceedings could be considered against Veena Vijayan and legislator P.A. Mohammed Riyas in connection with the allegations.
The ED, in a 25-page submission to the State Police Chief, has sought registration of a corruption case, attaching what it describes as details of suspect payments, financial records and WhatsApp exchanges to back its claims. According to the agency, illicit sums were received between 2016 and 2026, during Vijayan’s tenure as chief minister, either directly or via Exalogic, a firm owned by his daughter. The ED has named more than a dozen individuals, including Vijayan, Veena Vijayan and former minister Mohammed Riyas, for possible action.
The Advocate General has noted that the transactions in question straddle the 2018 amendments to the Prevention of Corruption Act, meaning provisions from both the pre- and post-amendment legal regimes could apply to any investigation. The upcoming meeting between Satheesan and Chennithala is expected to finalise the route and scope of the inquiry.
The CPI(M) has rejected the ED’s allegations as politically motivated and is likely to resist any state-level probe based on the central agency’s findings. The government, however, has said communications from a central investigative body must be examined and acted upon in line with the law.
(Inputs from IANS)