Saurabh Mukherjee
Mass protests erupted across Kerala and in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 28) after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches linked to the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money laundering case, including at the residence of former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
In the national capital, senior CPI(M) leaders, led by general secretary M. A. Baby, joined demonstrations condemning the politically motivated action by the BJP-led Union government.
Delhi Police detained Baby along with senior leader Brinda Karat , Polit Bureau members Ashok Dhawale, Mariyam Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan during a protest march against the ED action.
In a post on X, the CPI(M) stated, “The Delhi police brutally repressed a protest by #CPIM leaders and workers against the ED raids at the residence of Polit Bureau member and former Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan. The police detained General Secretary @MABABYCPIM, Polit Bureau members Mariam Dhawale and @VijooKrishnan, party leader Brinda Karat, and other leaders and workers. Down with the barbarity of the Delhi police!”
The party intensified its criticism of both the BJP and the Congress, pointing to earlier remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the assembly election campaign, when he had demanded action against Vijayan by central agencies.
In a statement, Baby alleged that the raid is a targeted attack on top opposition leaders by the BJP government.
“Such action will not intimidate either Pinarayi Vijayan or the CPM,” he said.
The CPI(M) Kerala state secretariat announced statewide demonstrations at district, area and local levels. State secretary M. V. Govindan said workers had also been asked to organise torchlight protests across branches.
“The BJP-led Union government is aiming to weaken the CPM through an organised attack against its leader. Pinarayi has no link to the case. The Rs 1.72-crore bank transaction between Veena Vijayan’s company Exalogic and CMRL was carried out through official banking channels. She also paid the income tax. There is nothing illegal in it. Two ministers in the current UDF government had admitted that they had received money from CMRL. Yet there has been no probe against them,” he said.
The CPI state secretariat also questioned the Congress position on the raids.
“People want to know whether the Congress has changed its earlier stand that central agencies are being misused by the Union government,” it said. The CPI national secretariat separately condemned the ED action.
Tensions escalated outside Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram when CPI(M) workers allegedly tried to block the vehicles of ED officials as the searches were concluding.
Speaking to reporters on the developments in the case, the DGP stated, “After yesterday’s incident, we have taken a case and registered 8 people. We have identified others involved, too and will take action against them.”
Defending the police arrangements during the operation, he added, “We made arrangements based on the information we received about the ongoing raid – deployed manpower.”
Kerala Home Minister and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala claimed the state government had not been informed in advance about the operation.
“The Keralam government or the Home Ministry has no information about this raid. They did not seek our support either, so we do not know the details of the operation. This question needs to be posed to the ED,” he said.
Chennithala further alleged that there had been an understanding between the BJP and the CPI(M) in Kerala, while asserting that the Congress remained opposed to both parties.
The CPI(M) maintained that the raids reflected the increasing use of central agencies against opposition leaders.
Following the searches, Vijayan stated: "The sentiments of the comrades and the people have made it clear that the wholehearted support I have been receiving over the years is still remaining unchanged."
His remarks came amid reports of internal criticism within the party after the Left Front’s electoral setback and speculation over leadership changes in the opposition camp.
Support for Vijayan also came from leaders of several opposition parties across the country. M. K. Stalin condemned the ED action, saying it raised “serious concerns” about the “growing pattern of central agencies being weaponised” against opposition leaders.
He further remarked that the raids exposed “the hollowness of the reckless allegations made by some Congress leaders” who had earlier questioned why Vijayan had not been targeted by the BJP.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also criticised the raids, saying, “The ED raid against former Kerala CM @pinarayivijayan is yet another blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJP to target regional opposition parties and undermine democracy.”
He additionally alleged a connection between the BJP and the Congress. “ED’s immediate raid after Congress started complaining about ‘inaction’, raises questions on the BJP-Congress relationship,” he claimed.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the Narendra Modi government of attempting to weaken regional parties through investigative agencies.
"The ED raid at the residence of Kerala's former Chief Minister Shri @pinarayivijayan ji is motivated by political malice and revenge. The BJP government misuses investigative agencies to serve its political interests and to eliminate regional parties. Let the Modi government tell us: In the past 12 years, after various investigative agencies have filed fabricated fake cases against leaders of opposition parties, conducted raids, and summoned them for questioning, how many opposition leaders have been inducted into the BJP, awarded certificates of honesty, and rewarded with high positions?" he asked, adding, "They are openly making those accused of corruption—who take notes in videos—into Chief Ministers. Remember, in the end, truth and justice will prevail," he added.
CPI(M) leader M. B. Rajesh compared the developments in Kerala to earlier action taken against AAP leaders in Delhi.
“The BJP-led government at the Centre is targeting the Left, and the CPI(M) in particular, in Kerala. That is why a series of raids is being conducted targeting Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan. This is nothing but a political vendetta. This move is similar to the one they executed in Delhi, targeting AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. We all know that the ED has no credibility at all; its conviction rate is less than 1%,” he said.
“The ED has been used by the Narendra Modi government to target and victimise opposition leaders and non-BJP party leaders. This is precisely what is happening in Kerala…This has happened in Delhi, and now it is happening here,” he added.
In the national capital, senior CPI(M) leaders, led by general secretary M. A. Baby, joined demonstrations condemning the politically motivated action by the BJP-led Union government.
Delhi Police detained Baby along with senior leader Brinda Karat , Polit Bureau members Ashok Dhawale, Mariyam Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan during a protest march against the ED action.
In a post on X, the CPI(M) stated, “The Delhi police brutally repressed a protest by #CPIM leaders and workers against the ED raids at the residence of Polit Bureau member and former Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan. The police detained General Secretary @MABABYCPIM, Polit Bureau members Mariam Dhawale and @VijooKrishnan, party leader Brinda Karat, and other leaders and workers. Down with the barbarity of the Delhi police!”
The Delhi police brutally repressed a protest by #CPIM leaders and workers against the ED raids at the residence of Polit Bureau member and former Kerala Chief Minister @pinarayivijayan
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) May 27, 2026
The police detained General Secretary @MABABYCPIM, Polit Bureau members Mariam Dhawale and… pic.twitter.com/Q2MLt4Vbge
The party intensified its criticism of both the BJP and the Congress, pointing to earlier remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the assembly election campaign, when he had demanded action against Vijayan by central agencies.
In a statement, Baby alleged that the raid is a targeted attack on top opposition leaders by the BJP government.
“Such action will not intimidate either Pinarayi Vijayan or the CPM,” he said.
The CPI(M) Kerala state secretariat announced statewide demonstrations at district, area and local levels. State secretary M. V. Govindan said workers had also been asked to organise torchlight protests across branches.
“The BJP-led Union government is aiming to weaken the CPM through an organised attack against its leader. Pinarayi has no link to the case. The Rs 1.72-crore bank transaction between Veena Vijayan’s company Exalogic and CMRL was carried out through official banking channels. She also paid the income tax. There is nothing illegal in it. Two ministers in the current UDF government had admitted that they had received money from CMRL. Yet there has been no probe against them,” he said.
The CPI state secretariat also questioned the Congress position on the raids.
“People want to know whether the Congress has changed its earlier stand that central agencies are being misused by the Union government,” it said. The CPI national secretariat separately condemned the ED action.
Tensions escalated outside Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram when CPI(M) workers allegedly tried to block the vehicles of ED officials as the searches were concluding.
Speaking to reporters on the developments in the case, the DGP stated, “After yesterday’s incident, we have taken a case and registered 8 people. We have identified others involved, too and will take action against them.”
Defending the police arrangements during the operation, he added, “We made arrangements based on the information we received about the ongoing raid – deployed manpower.”
Kerala Home Minister and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala claimed the state government had not been informed in advance about the operation.
“The Keralam government or the Home Ministry has no information about this raid. They did not seek our support either, so we do not know the details of the operation. This question needs to be posed to the ED,” he said.
Chennithala further alleged that there had been an understanding between the BJP and the CPI(M) in Kerala, while asserting that the Congress remained opposed to both parties.
The CPI(M) maintained that the raids reflected the increasing use of central agencies against opposition leaders.
Following the searches, Vijayan stated: "The sentiments of the comrades and the people have made it clear that the wholehearted support I have been receiving over the years is still remaining unchanged."
His remarks came amid reports of internal criticism within the party after the Left Front’s electoral setback and speculation over leadership changes in the opposition camp.
Support for Vijayan also came from leaders of several opposition parties across the country. M. K. Stalin condemned the ED action, saying it raised “serious concerns” about the “growing pattern of central agencies being weaponised” against opposition leaders.
He further remarked that the raids exposed “the hollowness of the reckless allegations made by some Congress leaders” who had earlier questioned why Vijayan had not been targeted by the BJP.
Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also criticised the raids, saying, “The ED raid against former Kerala CM @pinarayivijayan is yet another blatant misuse of central agencies by the BJP to target regional opposition parties and undermine democracy.”
He additionally alleged a connection between the BJP and the Congress. “ED’s immediate raid after Congress started complaining about ‘inaction’, raises questions on the BJP-Congress relationship,” he claimed.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the Narendra Modi government of attempting to weaken regional parties through investigative agencies.
"The ED raid at the residence of Kerala's former Chief Minister Shri @pinarayivijayan ji is motivated by political malice and revenge. The BJP government misuses investigative agencies to serve its political interests and to eliminate regional parties. Let the Modi government tell us: In the past 12 years, after various investigative agencies have filed fabricated fake cases against leaders of opposition parties, conducted raids, and summoned them for questioning, how many opposition leaders have been inducted into the BJP, awarded certificates of honesty, and rewarded with high positions?" he asked, adding, "They are openly making those accused of corruption—who take notes in videos—into Chief Ministers. Remember, in the end, truth and justice will prevail," he added.
CPI(M) leader M. B. Rajesh compared the developments in Kerala to earlier action taken against AAP leaders in Delhi.
“The BJP-led government at the Centre is targeting the Left, and the CPI(M) in particular, in Kerala. That is why a series of raids is being conducted targeting Comrade Pinarayi Vijayan. This is nothing but a political vendetta. This move is similar to the one they executed in Delhi, targeting AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. We all know that the ED has no credibility at all; its conviction rate is less than 1%,” he said.
“The ED has been used by the Narendra Modi government to target and victimise opposition leaders and non-BJP party leaders. This is precisely what is happening in Kerala…This has happened in Delhi, and now it is happening here,” he added.
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