Kerala CM Questions CPM’s Blame Game in CMRL Case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday criticized opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPM for blaming Rahul Gandhi over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in Kerala related to the Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd (CMRL) case.

Speaking for the first time since Wednesday’s raids, Satheesan expressed surprise at Pinarayi targeting Rahul Gandhi instead of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, or the minister in charge of the ED. The raids are tied to allegations that CMRL illegally paid Rs 1.72 crore to Pinarayi’s daughter Veena T’s company, Exalogic Solutions, between 2017 and 2020 without any services rendered.

The Kerala High Court dismissed CMRL’s plea to halt the ED investigation, allowing it to continue. Satheesan also reminded Pinarayi that Rahul Gandhi had been questioned by the ED for 55 hours, during which they cooperated and stated it was a politically motivated case, with no violence against ED officials.

The ED, a central agency, registered a case, but when some respondents approached the High Court to halt the investigation, the court dismissed their petition and allowed the probe to continue. The very next morning, raids were conducted at several houses. What role does the state government have here? How can anyone claim the ED cannot investigate? Do we even have the authority to say that? Can we dictate who the ED should or shouldn’t probe, especially when the court itself has permitted their action? Satheesan asked.

Responding to the CPM’s allegation that the raids were ordered by the Kerala Chief Minister after meeting the Prime Minister in Delhi, Satheeshan scoffed, “What a joke!” Taking a jab at CPM leaders, he added, “During our meeting, the PM supposedly called ED officials and said, ‘Look, Satheeshan is here, and he’s asked for raids against former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, and at least 12 locations, including his house.’”

Satheesan remarked that while he knew Pinarayi wouldn’t say such things, some of his leaders were making absurd statements, leaving him unsure whether to laugh or cry. He advised the CPM not to underestimate the common sense of the people of Kerala, noting that everyone was laughing.

The chief minister, however, found some humor in the situation, saying that communists are usually seen as serious and rigid, but he was glad they’d started cracking jokes.

Satheesan also shared that he met the Prime Minister for the first time in person after taking office, as part of the customary courtesy calls by chief ministers, having only seen him before on TV and social media.

On the ED raid-related violence in Thiruvananthapuram, the chief minister criticised the central agency for not informing the state government or police about the raids at multiple locations across Kerala. He said officials only learned of the situation from TV channels and commended Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala for directing police to maintain order and apprehend the accused.

The police officers showed great restraint. “In some situations, police must act tactfully to ensure things don’t get out of hand. It’s not difficult for them to raid any place, including political party offices, to arrest those involved in criminal activity. But the cops acted responsibly, and all the accused are being dealt with according to the law,” he said.

He asked CPM leadership to refrain from violence as it creates law and order problems for the general public.

Responding to allegations that two ministers in his Cabinet Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty had also taken money from CMRL, Satheesan said, “I have addressed this issue on the floor of the house. All political parties and their leaders take money from big industrialists for party work.

"Our party may have also taken money from CMRL for political purposes. But the case involving Pinarayi’s daughter is completely different. Her IT company, Exalogic Solutions, received money after reaching an agreement with CMRL to provide client services. However, the agency believes that the money given to her amounts to money laundering and falls under the PMLA Act.” he said.