Tension in Kerala: ED Team Attacked During Raids Linked to Pinarayi Vijayan; What Did the Former CM Say?
High drama unfolded in Kerala on Wednesday after an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team conducting raids linked to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan came under attack from alleged CPI(M) supporters.
The ED team, consisting of around 12 officials, began searches early in the morning at nearly 10 locations connected to Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Kozhikode and Aluva as part of a money laundering investigation.
One of the main raids took place at Vijayan’s rented house at Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was present along with family members, including his daughter Veena Vijayan.
As the raids continued, news spread quickly and CPI(M) workers started gathering outside the residence. According to reports, tension escalated when the ED officials left the premises around 2 PM. Protesters allegedly surrounded the vehicles and hurled stones and bottles at them. Several vehicle windows were damaged, while some cars were also hit with sticks.
Raids in Four Cities
Apart from the Thiruvananthapuram residence, the ED also searched Vijayan’s ancestral home in Kannur.
In Kozhikode, officials conducted searches at the house of CPI(M) MLA and Vijayan’s son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas.
In Aluva, raids were carried out at the office of CMRL and the residence of the company’s Managing Director, Sasidharan Kartha.
Vijayan Reacts to the Searches
Reacting to the raids, Pinarayi Vijayan said the ED had been trying to search his residence for a long time. He remarked that the operation would likely satisfy some people, especially Rahul Gandhi.
Vijayan claimed that Rahul Gandhi had earlier questioned why his house had not been raided and why he had not been arrested. He also accused the BJP-led central government of repeatedly using central agencies to target opposition leaders across the country.