CMRL case: ED writes to Keralam DGP seeking FIR against Pinarayi Vijayan, daughter, son-in-law Mohamed Riyas

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Keralam DGP seeking an FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law P.A. Mohamed Riyas, MLA, in connection with the CMRL-linked alleged bribery case, official sources said Tuesday (September 8, 2026).

The central agency has sent a communication under Section 66 (2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) citing findings of its investigation conducted in the said case, the sources told PTI. This section under the anti-money laundering law empowers the ED to share findings of its criminal investigation with a law enforcement agency for registration of a fresh FIR or complaint.

The ED can book a PMLA case on the basis of such a police case. The ED has sought registration of a police FIR from the Keralam DGP against Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas and some others on the basis of “evidences” recovered by it during probe and searches conducted in this case under the PMLA, they said.

It is alleged by the ED that Keralam mining firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) made fraudulent payments worth ₹2.78 crore to Ms. Veena’s now-defunct company Exalogic Solutions under the guise of ‘IT consultancy services’.

The federal agency had raided Mr. Veena, who was living with Mr. Vijayan at a rented accommodation in State capital Thiruvananthapuram, in June 2026 and subsequently questioned her. Mr. Vijayan is now the Keralam Opposition Leader.

It had said in a statement in August that some “handwritten” notes were seized during searches against Ms. Veena and these contained details of certain fund transfers to Dubai. Ms. Veena’s husband and CPI(M) leader Mr. Riyas had said that he and the party will politically and legally deal with the ED case, including the searches conducted at their homes and the businesses of people linked to them.

A similar view was also expressed by CPI(M) State secretary M V Govindan, who claimed that the ED was now trying to target Mr. Riyas. Mr. Vijayan had called the ED case against his daughter as “a political vendetta.”