ED officials conducting simultaneous raids at Pinarayi Vijayan's Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur homes The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of former Chief Minister and current opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, as well as other locations linked to the Exalogic-CMRL financial transaction case. The investigation is tied to allegations of illegal financial dealings between Exalogic, a company owned by Vijayan’s daughter Vinea, and the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). The raids, which took place on May 27, 2026, targeted multiple sites, including the home of CMRL Managing Director Shashidharan K. R. and other properties associated with the case. In Thiruvananthapuram, ED officials searched Vijayan’s rented residence and his family home in Kannur, where the latter was initially locked. A caretaker was contacted to open the door, prompting protests from CPI(M) workers. Similar protests erupted in Kozhikode, where ED raided the home of Muhammad Riyas, Vijayan’s son-in-law and former minister. Riyas was not present at his Kozhikode residence during the raid. The investigation centers on allegations of illicit transactions between Exalogic and CMRL, with the ED probing claims of illegal gratification and money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case gained momentum after the Kerala High Court rejected a petition seeking a stay on the ED’s inquiry, paving the way for the raids. The ED’s operations included searches at Exalogic’s Bengaluru office, CMRL’s Aluva office, and the residences of senior company officials. The raids have sparked significant political backlash, with CPI(M) convening an emergency meeting to address the situation.#enforcement_directorate #pinarayi_vijayan #exalogic #chennai_metro_rail_limited #shashidharan_k_r
