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ED taking up cases with political motive and bias, claims CPI(M) Keralam secretary M.V. Govindan
CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan alleged the Enforcement Directorate is politically targeting opposition leaders, including former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, in the CMRL money laundering case. Speaking at a public meeting in Kozhikode, he cited statistics and examples to claim bias, while asserting the party would resist legally and politically.
CPI(M) alleges political motive behind ED probe in CMRL case
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of politically targeting opposition leaders, specifically in the money laundering case linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL). The allegation came from party state secretary M.V. Govindan during a public meeting titled 'The politics of ED' held in Kozhikode on Sunday evening.
Govindan alleged that the probe against T. Veena, daughter of Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and wife of Beypore MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas, was aimed at reaching the former chief minister and his son-in-law. The investigation concerns alleged financial transactions between the now-defunct Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd., owned by Veena, and CMRL.
Party's stance and allegations
Addressing a gathering organized by the party's Kozhikode district committee at Muthalakkulam, Govindan said the ED's actions were politically motivated. He questioned the agency's practice of issuing press releases during an ongoing investigation, calling it a "strange stance." He claimed that searches conducted on May 27 at the residences of Vijayan and Riyas yielded nothing, and alleged that recent searches at nine locations, including homes of people associated with Riyas, were an attempt to create a new narrative.
"What did you get? You issued a press release saying, 'We got it.' What did you get? Apart from issuing a press note to create suspicion, you have received nothing," Govindan said, as quoted by multiple reports.
He further alleged that those questioned during the searches were intimidated and that the ED was trying to open a new line of investigation by referring to 'hawala.' Govindan asserted that Riyas was being targeted because he is Vijayan's son-in-law.
Broader political allegations
Govindan claimed that since the BJP came to power at the Centre, the ED has registered cases for political reasons rather than based on facts. He stated that almost 95% of accused in ED cases belong to opposition parties. To illustrate, he cited instances of senior journalist Prabir Purkayastha and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who were initially implicated but later acquitted by courts citing lack of evidence.
He also alleged that financial misappropriation charges against BJP leaders were not pursued, mentioning the Kodakara highway heist and election funds. Additionally, he claimed that leaders like Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and West Bengal's Suvendu Adhikari, who shifted to BJP after facing ED cases, saw those cases lose momentum.
Referring to the ED's record, Govindan said the agency registered around 5,900 cases in the past 12 years, conducted 7,450 raids, filed chargesheets in only 9% of cases, and secured only 25 convictions. He argued that the ED was being used as an instrument to target leaders critical of the BJP-led government, while BJP leaders were largely spared.
Specific claims about the CMRL case
Govindan referenced the long-pending SNC-Lavalin case involving Vijayan, which was investigated by the CBI, suggesting the ED might prolong the current case similarly. He said the CMRL-related case would be dealt with by the company and that Veena Vijayan should face any legitimate investigation concerning Exalogic on its own merits.
He alleged that the investigation was being projected as a case involving 'Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter' to portray him as corrupt, and that after attempts to target Vijayan failed, the focus shifted to Riyas. Govindan also claimed the ED was trying to extend the case to include CPI(M) leader P. Nikhil.
He said the party would confront the ED's actions both politically and legally and would not be intimidated by raids targeting its leaders, workers, or sympathizers. "If the ED has evidence, it should produce it before the court," he stated.
Context and presence
The meeting was attended by CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary M. Mehboob and senior party leaders such as P. Mohanan. The event was part of the party's response to the recent ED searches in Kozhikode related to the CMRL-Exalogic case.
Govindan's remarks were reported by Hindustan Times, India Today, The New Indian Express, Outlook India, and The Hindu – World, all quoting his statements at the public meeting.
How each outlet told it
Hindustan Times
Framing: Accusation of political targeting by ED in money laundering case — Accusatory — 'The present ED is not a truthful agency that the people of India can rely on. They are adopting a partisan and political stance.'
Facts Included:
CPI(M) accused ED of politically targeting Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL money laundering case
Meeting organized in Kozhikode following ED probe into Vijayan's daughter Veena T and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged probe against Veena aimed at targeting former CM and son-in-law MLA P A Muhammed Riyas
Govindan criticized ED's practice of issuing press releases during investigation
Nothing found during searches at residences of Vijayan and Riyas on May 27
Searches conducted last week at nine locations including residences of people associated with Riyas
Govindan alleged those questioned were intimidated and ED was creating new line of investigation by referring to hawala
Govindan alleged ED targeting Riyas because he is Vijayan's son-in-law
Reference to long-pending SNC-Lavalin case involving Vijayan investigated by CBI
Govindan alleged BJP using PMLA with ED help to target opposition leaders
Claim that nearly 95% of ED cases were against opposition party leaders
Allegation that BJP spent more than ₹4 crore during Kerala Assembly election with unaccounted money
Govindan said ED did not examine facts before initiating investigations
Govindan said 'The present ED is not a truthful agency...'
Framing: CPI(M) cries foul as ED targets former CM Pinarayi in CMRL case — 'cries foul' suggests complaint — Accusatory — similar to Hindustan Times, with direct quotes
Facts Included:
CPI(M) accused ED of politically targeting Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL money laundering case
Party held meeting in Kozhikode after ED's probe into Vijayan's daughter Veena T and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited
Govindan said probe had ulterior political motive, targeting Veena to reach former CM and son-in-law
Questioned ED's recent searches and public communication
Nothing found during searches at residences of Vijayan and Riyas on May 27
Searches carried out last week at nine locations including residences of people associated with Riyas
Govindan alleged intimidation of those questioned and hawala reference
Riyas targeted because he is Vijayan's son-in-law
Reference to SNC-Lavalin case and CBI
Govindan said CMRL case would be dealt with by company
Allegation that BJP using PMLA to target opposition leaders
Claim that nearly 95% of ED cases against opposition leaders
Allegation that BJP spent more than Rs 4 crore in Kerala election
Govindan said ED did not examine facts before starting investigations
Direct quote: 'The present ED is not a truthful agency...'
Framing: CPM in Kerala won't bow to ED pressure — emphasizes resistance and defiance — Defiant — 'CPM in Kerala has no intention of surrendering to the ED pressure'
Facts Included:
CPM in Kerala won't bow to ED pressure, says MV Govindan
Public meeting on 'ED's politics' organised by party's Kozhikode district committee at Muthalakkulam against recent ED searches
Govindan alleged agency attempting to expand investigation to CPM state secretariat member P A Mohamed Riyas by searching residences of associates
Alleged action was attempt to target CPM leaders, workers and sympathisers
Govindan said 'If the ED has evidence, it should produce it before the court.'
Party will confront ED's actions politically and legally
Alleged ED used as instrument to target leaders critical of BJP-led Union government
Claimed BJP leaders spared while Opposition leaders subjected to raids, questioning, arrests
Referred to cases involving leaders in Assam and West Bengal, pattern of leaders moving closer to BJP after which cases lost momentum
Said case involving Exalogic should be investigated on its own merits
Veena Vijayan, daughter of former CM and promoter of Exalogic Solutions, should face legitimate investigation concerning company
Alleged investigation projected as 'Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter' to portray him as corrupt
After attempt to target Vijayan failed, focus shifting to Riyas
Questioned ED's record: 5,900 cases, 7,450 searches, few convictions
Framing: Claims of political motive and bias in ED cases by CPI(M) secretary — Assertive — claims are presented as allegations, with specific examples cited.
Facts Included:
ED taking up cases with political motive and bias, claim by CPI(M) Keralam secretary M.V. Govindan
Public meeting titled 'The politics of ED' on Sunday evening
Searches on premises of friends and acquaintances of P.A. Mohamed Riyas, Beypore MLA and CPI(M) State secretariat member
Investigation into alleged financial transactions between now-defunct Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd. owned by Riyas' wife T. Veena, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd.
Govindan claimed ED had been registering cases for political reasons since BJP came to power at Centre
Allegation that almost 95% of accused in ED cases belong to Opposition parties
Cited examples of Prabir Purkayastha (Newsclick) and Arvind Kejriwal, initially implicated and later acquitted
Claimed financial misappropriation charges against BJP leaders not pursued, including Kodakara highway heist and election funds
Mentioned Himanta Biswa Sarma and Suvendu Adhikari as leaders who shifted to BJP after facing ED cases, cases later vanished
ED registered around 5,900 cases in past 12 years, 7,450 raids, chargesheets in only 9%, convictions only 25
Govindan claimed ED trying to extend case to Vijayan and Riyas and CPI(M) leader P. Nikhil
Searches at Vijayan's residences and Riyas' house earlier this year did not yield evidence
Presence of M. Mehboob, CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary, and P. Mohanan
Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.
Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimThe CPI(M) accused the Enforcement Directorate of politically targeting Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL money laundering case.
ClaimThe CPI(M) held a meeting in Kozhikode following the ED's money laundering probe into Vijayan's daughter Veena T and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited.
ClaimM V Govindan, CPI(M) state secretary, alleged that the ED's probe against Veena T aimed to target former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his son-in-law, MLA P A Muhammed Riyas.
ClaimGovindan said the ED had made little progress in the CMRL case and that searches conducted last week at nine locations, including residences of people associated with Riyas, were an attempt to create a new narrative.
ClaimGovindan alleged that those questioned during the searches were intimidated and that the ED was attempting to create a new line of investigation by referring to 'hawala'.
ClaimGovindan referred to the long-pending SNC-Lavalin case involving Pinarayi Vijayan, which was investigated by the CBI, and alleged that the ED would similarly prolong the present case for decades.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the BJP was using the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, with the help of the ED, to target political leaders, particularly those from opposition parties.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the BJP spent more than Rs 4 crore during the Kerala Assembly election in priority constituencies as part of its campaign and that the money was unaccounted for, and that the ED did not initiate any probe.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the ED had been registering cases for political reasons since the BJP came to power at the Centre, citing that almost 95% of accused in ED cases belong to opposition parties.
ClaimGovindan cited the examples of senior journalist Prabir Purkayastha and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who were initially implicated by the ED and later acquitted by courts citing lack of evidence.
ClaimGovindan claimed that the ED was not interested in investigating the Kodakara highway heist case and charges of misappropriation of election funds involving BJP functionaries.
ClaimGovindan alleged that leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma and Suvendu Adhikari shifted to BJP when faced with ED cases, after which the cases vanished.
ClaimGovindan claimed that the ED had registered around 5,900 cases in the past 12 years, conducted 7,450 raids, filed chargesheets in only 9% of them, and secured only 25 convictions.
ClaimGovindan claimed that the ED was deliberately attempting to extend the case involving Veena to Vijayan and Riyas and CPI(M) leaders such as P. Nikhil.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the ED was attempting to expand the investigation into the CMRL case to P A Mohamed Riyas by searching residences of people associated with him.
ClaimGovindan said the party will confront the ED's actions both politically and legally and will not be intimidated by raids targeting its leaders, workers or sympathisers.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the ED had been used as an instrument to target leaders and organisations critical of the BJP-led Union government, with BJP leaders largely spared while Opposition leaders faced raids, questioning and arrests.
ClaimGovindan alleged that ED investigations followed a pattern in which political leaders facing investigation moved closer to BJP, after which cases lost momentum.
ClaimGovindan said the case involving Exalogic should be investigated on its own merits and that Veena Vijayan, daughter of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and promoter of Exalogic Solutions, should face any legitimate investigation concerning the company.
ClaimGovindan alleged that the investigation is being projected as a case involving 'Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter' to portray him as corrupt, and that after the attempt to politically target Pinarayi Vijayan failed, the focus shifted towards Riyas.
ClaimThe ED's probe relates to alleged financial transactions between the now-defunct Exalogic Solutions Private Ltd., owned by T. Veena, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd.
5 outlets · 5 articles consulted: Hindustan Times, India Today, The New Indian Express, Outlook India, The Hindu — World33 claims extractedVersion 3Written 2026-08-24