Kerala Police Constitutes Special Investigation Team to Probe Corruption Allegations Against CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant development that has sent shockwaves through Kerala’s political landscape, the state police have officially formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate high-level corruption and bribery allegations against Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his son-in-law and CPI(M) MLA PA Mohammed Riyas, and his daughter, Veena T.

The formation of the investigative body, which falls under the purview of the Crime Branch, follows a formal directive issued by the state government. This move is a direct response to a report filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the controversial Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions case.

Leadership and Composition of the Probe

The SIT will be spearheaded by Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Vikraman, with the entire investigation operating under the strict oversight of Crime Branch Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H. Venkatesh.

According to the official order, the task force is equipped with significant investigative bandwidth, comprising three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), five Inspectors, and specialized personnel from the police force’s Cyber Division. The state government has set a strict timeline for this inquiry, mandating that the team complete its preliminary probe and submit its findings within 30 days.

The Core Allegations

The case centres on explosive claims made by the Enforcement Directorate, which has alleged that Pinarayi Vijayan received illegal kickbacks totaling approximately ₹3.28 crore from CMRL. The agency contends that these illicit funds were routed to his daughter’s IT firm, Exalogic Solutions, which is now defunct.

The ED’s findings are largely predicated on incriminating statements provided by the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CMRL. Furthermore, the federal agency has alleged that PA Mohammed Riyas played a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of these funds abroad, specifically utilizing “hawala channels.”

These allegations are an extension of the long-standing “CMRL monthly payments” scandal. In that broader investigation, Veena T. and her IT firm were accused of receiving payments amounting to ₹2.78 crore from the mineral company despite providing no tangible consultancy services or software solutions. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has already conducted a separate, parallel inquiry into these transactions, leading to the filing of a preliminary report before an Ernakulam court that explicitly names Veena T. and several senior executives of CMRL as suspects.

Political Implications

The state home department’s decision to initiate this probe comes just one day after the Enforcement Directorate formally urged the state authorities to register a corruption case based on their ongoing findings. The formation of the SIT marks a pivotal turning point in a case that has been the subject of intense political debate in the Kerala Assembly for several months.

As the 30-day countdown begins for the SIT to deliver its preliminary report, the political atmosphere in the state remains volatile. The opposition has long demanded transparency regarding the financial dealings linked to the Chief Minister’s family, while the ruling coalition continues to face mounting pressure to address the findings of both federal agencies and state investigators. With the Cyber Division involved, investigators are expected to deep-dive into the digital trail of financial transactions that reportedly link the firm to these high-profile individuals.

Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.

Source: Read Original News