ED brings PMLA into attack on officials at Vijayan home, intensifies pressure on CPI(M)

Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant escalation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case in connection with the alleged assault on its officials at the Thiruvananthapuram residence of Kerala Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in May, widening the probe to examine possible financial links behind the mobilisation of attackers.

The agency suspects that funds from persons or companies already under its scrutiny may have been used to organise the crowd that obstructed the search operation and attacked the officials. It will now investigate whether any of the 28 CPI(M), DYFI and SFI functionaries named by the Kerala Police and Crime Branch in an attempt-to-murder case received financial assistance for the incident and whether such transactions amount to proceeds of crime under PMLA.

ED officials are also expected to look into the alleged conspiracy behind the attack, including the role of political leaders present at the scene. Using PMLA in a case involving physical assault on enforcement officials is seen as unusual and markedly expands the legal and investigative scope beyond the criminal case being pursued by state agencies.

The development comes as the Cantonment police, led by ACP Jayachandran, prepares to file the first charge sheet in the assault case. While the document names 28 party functionaries as accused, it is understood to deal primarily with the criminal aspects of the attack and not delve deeply into the broader political conspiracy alleged by the ED.

The trouble began in the last week of May, when an ED team reached Vijayan’s home as part of its money-laundering probe into the so-called monthly-payment case involving his daughter, T Veena, and her former company, Exalogic Solutions. Party activists gathered outside the residence, allegedly blocked the officials, damaged their vehicle and assaulted them, forcing the team to retreat without completing the search.

Separately, the ED has in recent days asked the Kerala Director General of Police to register a Prevention of Corruption Act case against Vijayan, Veena and former minister Mohammed Riyas over alleged kickbacks from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). The agency claims that Exalogic received large monthly payments from CMRL, part of which was siphoned off as bribes to Vijayan and Riyas.

With the ED now pursuing both the corruption allegations in the CMRL-Exalogic case and a money-laundering probe into the attack on its officials, the CPI(M) faces intensified pressure on two interlinked fronts.

(Inputs from IANS)