Congress MLA accuses ex-Kerala CM Vijayan of 'unusual corruption' in CMRL case

Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan on Sunday escalated his attack on former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) money-laundering case, accusing him of 'unusual corruption' involving crores of rupees allegedly credited to the account of his daughter, T. Veena.

Responding to Mr. Vijayan's recent statements denying any wrongdoing by himself or his family, the Muvattupuzha MLA said the former Chief Minister's repeated assertion that his 'hands are clean' was a tactic to divert attention from the allegations. Mr. Kuzhalnadan's remarks come amid an ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into alleged financial irregularities at CMRL.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Kuzhalnadan recounted an exchange in the Kerala Assembly last year, during which Mr. Vijayan had described his accusations as a 'blatant lie.' The MLA claimed he had subsequently substantiated his allegations both inside and outside the Assembly and had submitted a privilege notice against the then Chief Minister's statement. He noted that the Speaker later withdrew the privilege notice, a move he suggested raised questions.

'Looking at his reaction yesterday, I feel that he is afraid of something,' Mr. Kuzhalnadan said. 'In reality, the situation has reached a stage where, no matter how many times Mr. Vijayan repeats it, even communists do not believe him.' The Congress leader also expressed concern that Mr. Vijayan might be finding it difficult to retain his position within his party and the Left Democratic Front.

The MLA said the ED investigation itself was not unusual, but the circumstances surrounding the case in Kerala amounted to 'unusual corruption.' He pointed out that large sums of money were allegedly deposited into Ms. Veena's bank account while she held no public office or position at CMRL. According to the ED, ₹20.5 crore was diverted from the company.

Mr. Kuzhalnadan also criticised remarks attributed to Mr. Vijayan suggesting the amount involved was small. 'For Ms. Veena and Mr. Vijayan, ₹20 crore is considered a small amount,' he said, urging ordinary communists and members of the working class to take note of the statement.

The CMRL case pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the mineral processing company. The ED has alleged hawala transactions and money laundering, with funds purportedly routed to various accounts, including that of Ms. Veena. Mr. Vijayan has denied all allegations, asserting that the case is politically motivated and that neither he nor his family members engaged in any wrongdoing.

The controversy has become a major political flashpoint in Kerala, with the opposition Congress-led UDF seeking to corner the ruling LDF over the issue. Mr. Kuzhalnadan's latest remarks are likely to intensify the political debate as the ED probe continues. The allegations have also raised questions about regulatory oversight, with opposition parties demanding a comprehensive inquiry. The ED's investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusions have been drawn.