Kerala Orders Vijayan Probe
Kerala orders a police inquiry into former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and family over bribery allegations.
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Key Points
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Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the Advocate General’s opinion relied on two Supreme Court judgments concerning law-enforcement agencies’ duty to act on information received and the circumstances in which such action is required.
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The ED report moved through a defined administrative chain: the state police chief forwarded the Advocate General’s opinion to the Home Secretary, who then placed it before the government for instructions; Chennithala said the opinion had been received two days before the decision.
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State Police Chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar said he had not yet received the government’s order when contacted, despite the home minister’s announcement that it would be issued shortly; he said the DGP would determine the form of the inquiry.
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P.A. Mohamed Riyas said his opposition to the ED investigation would continue “till his last breath,” claimed the agency had spread “blatant lies,” and alleged that searches of his residences in Pinarayi and Thiruvananthapuram had not recovered any money, asking whether investigators had found “even 25 paise.”
Kerala's Congress-led government has ordered a police inquiry into former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena, and state leader P.A. Mohamed Riyas following an Enforcement Directorate report alleging bribery and money-laundering in the CMRL case The Hindu. The Crime Branch will investigate without initially filing a formal complaint, based on legal advice from the state's top lawyer Daily Pioneer.
The CPI(M) party condemned the move, calling it politically motivated use of investigative agencies against opposition leaders Onmanorama. Riyas denied wrongdoing and said searches of his homes found no money, asking whether investigators had found "even 25 paise" Daily Pioneer.
ED Report Triggers State Police Action
The Enforcement Directorate sought a formal First Information Report against Vijayan, his daughter, and Riyas under anti-corruption laws, citing evidence collected during its investigation The Hindu. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced the government would order a police inquiry instead, following the Advocate General's opinion on two Supreme Court judgments about when law-enforcement agencies must act on information received Daily Pioneer.
Administrative Process Unfolds Slowly
The ED report moved through a defined chain: the state police chief forwarded the Advocate General's opinion to the Home Secretary, who placed it before the government Daily Pioneer. Home Minister Chennithala said the legal opinion arrived two days before the decision was announced. However, Police Chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar said he had not yet received the government's official order when contacted, despite Chennithala's announcement The Hindu.
Opposition Party Calls Probe Politically Motivated
The CPI(M) party accused the Congress-led government of cooperating with the central government in what it described as a politically motivated attack Onmanorama. The party said it would respond both legally and politically to the inquiry. Riyas vowed to fight the investigation "till his last breath," claiming the ED had spread "blatant lies" and that home searches had recovered no money Daily Pioneer.
Government Denies Targeted Campaign
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the police inquiry was not aimed at "targeting anyone or taking revenge," framing it as a routine legal process The Hindu. The government emphasized that the Crime Branch probe would follow proper procedures and legal guidelines in investigating the CMRL-Exalogic payoff allegations.
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