ED registers case against 27 for attack on raid team at Vijayan's residence

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against all 27 individuals, including activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Students' Federation of India (SFI), who were earlier booked by the Kerala Police for allegedly attacking ED officials during a search operation at the residence of former Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.

The search, conducted on May 27, 2026, was in connection with the Exalogic-Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) pay-off case. The officials were allegedly attacked while returning by car after the raid, and the private vehicle engaged by the agency sustained substantial damage. Following the incident, the Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram registered a criminal case invoking charges including attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of public property, and obstruction of government officials.

ED sources said that all those named in the police First Information Report will be arraigned as accused in its case as well. “Charges in the police case, which are also covered by the scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), will be invoked against them,” the sources said.

The ED raid was carried out at Mr. Vijayan’s then rented house, where his daughter T. Veena, an accused in the case, was residing. On June 28, 2026, the State government removed T. Geena Kumari as prosecutor in the case following a request by the Thiruvananthapuram City Police, which cited her failure to oppose the bail application of the ninth accused, Harish Kumar, a Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) worker. She was replaced by A. Santhosh Kumar as Special Public Prosecutor.

Of the 27 accused, only one, Santhosh, a native of Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram, has not been declared absconding. A lookout notice has been issued against him to prevent him from leaving the country. The last to be arrested was Adarsh B.S., an SFI activist and the 27th accused, who had fled to the United Arab Emirates after the alleged attack and was apprehended upon arrival at Chennai airport on August 10, 2026.

Separately, the ED has submitted a detailed report to the State Police Chief seeking registration of a First Information Report under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant laws against Mr. Vijayan, former Public Works Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, and Ms. Veena, who is Mr. Riyas’s spouse, in the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off case. The report accuses Mr. Vijayan of receiving a bribe of ₱3.28 crore through his daughter.