The CPI(M) Polit Bureau has denounced the Enforcement Directorate's directive to file a corruption case against former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his family, calling it a targeted political attack by the central government.

  • The ED has directed Kerala Police to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Pinarayi Vijayan, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and T. Veena.
  • CPI(M) claims the investigation into T. Veena was merely a 'pretext' to target the former Chief Minister.
  • The party has accused the Congress of 'double standards' for supporting the ED's move.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] on Thursday issued a stern condemnation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for instructing the Kerala Police to initiate a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The targets of this directive include former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and Mr. Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena.

In a strongly worded statement, the CPI(M) asserted that it was "evident from the outset" that the probe into Ms. Veena was a strategic facade designed to eventually implicate Pinarayi Vijayan. The party maintained that this is a characteristic pattern of the Modi administration, which it alleges uses central agencies as tools to harass and intimidate Opposition leaders.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this escalation signals a deepening rift between the Left-led political machinery in Kerala and the Central Government. By targeting the family members of a former Chief Minister, the central agencies are not just pursuing a legal lead but are engaging in a high-stakes political gambit. This move is likely to consolidate the Left's base by framing the legal battle as a fight for regional autonomy and political survival.

The weaponization of investigative agencies against political opponents undermines the democratic fabric and shifts the focus from governance to perpetual litigation.

The CPI(M) also took a swipe at the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Sunny Joseph, for endorsing the ED's action. The party labeled this as a display of "double standards," noting that the Congress party vehemently opposes similar ED actions when they are directed at its own leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.

The statement further highlighted that a Congress MLA from Kerala had previously approached the Vigilance Court, the High Court, and the Supreme Court to seek a case against Pinarayi Vijayan on similar grounds. However, the courts rejected those pleas. The CPI(M) argues that the current ED move is an attempt to foist a case that has already been judicially dismissed.

Furthermore, the Polit Bureau warned the current V.D. Satheesan-led government against acting as an "agent" of the ED. The party vowed to utilize every political and legal resource available to fight what it describes as a blatant act of political vendetta.

Did You Know?: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, primarily tasked with fighting money laundering and foreign exchange violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the primary targets of the ED's latest directive in Kerala?
The directive targets former CM Pinarayi Vijayan, his son-in-law P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and his daughter T. Veena.

2. Why does the CPI(M) call the Congress's reaction 'double standards'?
Because the Congress supports the ED action against the Left in Kerala while opposing the same agency's actions against its own leaders nationwide.