Violence broke out outside the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his residence in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering case.
Angry CPI(M) workers hurled helmets, plastic bottles and stones at security personnel deployed there while search operations for the emergency department were underway inside, news agency PTI reported. A video on social media allegedly showed CPI(M) workers attacking a car carrying emergency department officials in Thiruvananthapuram.
Police and Central Security personnel struggled to control the crowd. The car, which also had female officials on board, was targeted during the incident. The vehicle’s windshield was damaged in the attack.
Read also | Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s house was raided by ED in a money laundering case
Senior CPI(Maoist) leaders later intervened, pacified the workers and convinced them to withdraw from the violent protest.
Why is the Enforcement Directorate conducting raids in Kerala?
The ED conducted searches at premises linked to Vijayan in the alleged CMRL monthly payment case involving his daughter.
The ED action is related to allegations that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd $1.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena, between 2018 and 2019 without receiving any services in return.
Officials said searches are being conducted at around 10 premises across Kerala under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The inspections came a day after the Kerala High Court rejected an application by the CMRL seeking quashing of the ED’s proceedings in the case.
Vijayan says such actions “don’t weaken him.”
Speaking to reporters after ED officials concluded hours-long searches at his residence, Vijayan said such actions would not intimidate or weaken him or the CPI(M).
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “No one should be under the illusion that such actions can frighten or weaken us.”
The veteran Communist Party of India leader accused the BJP-led Center of repeatedly using central agencies against opposition leaders since coming to power, and alleged that the action taken against him was part of the same strategy.
