ED seeks FIR against Pinarayi, Veena and Riyas in CMRL case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Kerala State Police Chief seeking registration of FIRs against former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case. The communication was sent under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), under which the ED can share its findings and evidence with another law-enforcement agency for registration of a fresh FIR or complaint. The ED has sought action under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable laws. The ED has reportedly submitted a 25-page report along with supporting material to the State Police Chief. DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar has confirmed receiving the report and said the required steps would be taken after scrutiny. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the ED's communication would be examined and a decision taken according to law. What the ED alleges against Pinarayi, Veena and Riyas A page from the ED report lists the alleged roles of 13 persons and entities in the CMRL-linked case. In the case of Pinarayi Vijayan, the ED report alleges that he received Rs 3.28 crore as bribe from CMRL through his daughter Veena Vijayan, citing the alleged admission of former CMRL CFO and CGM (Finance) P. Suresh Kumar. The ED report also alleges that Mohammed Riyas was involved in the receipt of bribes and the transfer of such funds to Dubai through Veena and known associates. Veena is described as allegedly assisting Pinarayi Vijayan and Riyas in the collection and routing of the alleged bribe funds. Exalogic Solutions Private Limited, Veena's now-defunct company, is described in the ED document as a corporate vehicle allegedly used for routing sham payments. CMRL managing director S.N. Sasidharan Kartha is listed as being involved in the payment of alleged bribes, while former CMRL CFO/CGM P. Suresh Kumar is listed as having assisted in the alleged payments. The ED has sought a police case against Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena, Riyas and other persons based on evidence recovered during its investigation and searches. How the CMRL-Exalogic case developed The investigation centres on payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, the company linked to Veena Vijayan. According to the ED, CMRL paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic despite the company allegedly not providing corresponding services. The agency has been examining the payments and the subsequent movement and utilisation of the funds. The investigation intensified after the ED conducted searches at locations connected to Veena Vijayan and CMRL promoters on May 27, followed by further searches in Kozhikode on August 18. The ED subsequently said handwritten accounts seized during the searches contained details of approximately Rs 20.05 crore in Indian currency and 3.49 lakh UAE dirhams, equivalent to about Rs 85 lakh, transferred to Dubai. The agency also reported finding evidence relating to hawala channels. The August 2026 searches covered nine premises in Kozhikode, with the ED examining financial records and digital devices and questioning people linked to the financial trail. The investigation also follows findings connected to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), with the ED examining documents relating to alleged fictitious expenses and suspected bribe payments at CMRL. BJP demands immediate FIR, action against Pinarayi Reacting to the ED's communication, the BJP in Keralam said the findings and evidence contained in the ED's letter should be acted upon immediately and demanded that an FIR be registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable provisions, followed by an investigation. The BJP also demanded that Pinarayi Vijayan be removed from official positions in view of the scale of the alleged corruption and called for his resignation from the Left Front. It further demanded that the Left Front remove him from the post of Leader of Opposition. What next for the Satheesan government? The ED's communication now puts the Congress-led UDF government headed by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan in a politically sensitive position. The immediate question is whether the Kerala Police will register an FIR based on the ED's findings. The DGP has received the 25-page report and said it would be scrutinised before further action. The Home Minister has also said that the matter will be examined and a decision taken according to law. The issue is particularly significant because Satheesan had earlier maintained that the state government had no role in the ED's central investigation. He had also said that the UDF had raised allegations concerning the CMRL-Exalogic transactions, while expressing reservations about the manner in which the ED investigation had been conducted. The latest ED request therefore shifts the issue to the state police and the UDF government: whether to register the FIR sought by the central agency, examine the allegations further before doing so, or take another course of action under law.