Thiruvananthapuram, May 28 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate’s intensified probe into the controversial CMRL-Exalogic financial transactions case involving T. Veena, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, has reignited political debate over what critics describe as the CPI-M’s “double standards” in handling allegations against leaders’ family members.

The controversy centres on the sharp contrast between the party’s present-day aggressive defence of Veena Vijayan and the stand it took in 2020 when the ED investigated Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of late CPI-M stalwart Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

When the ED raided Bineesh Kodiyeri’s residence in 2020 while Balakrishnan was the CPI-M state Secretary, the senior leader had publicly distanced both himself and the party from the case.

“Bineesh is not a public worker. If he has done anything wrong, let the highest punishment be given,” Balakrishnan had then said, insisting the party would not interfere in a personal legal matter.

Vijayan, then Chief Minister, had also adopted a cautious approach, stating that no conclusions could be drawn without knowing what evidence the investigating agency possessed and that the family concerned would deal with any wrongdoing legally, if established.

However, with the ED probe now reaching his own daughter and residence, the CPI-M’s response has undergone a dramatic shift.

Within hours of the ED raids at locations linked to Veena and Exalogic Solutions, party workers hit the streets, emergency meetings were convened, and top leaders launched an aggressive political counterattack against the central agency.

CPI-M state Secretary M.V. Govindan described the ED action as the last weapon in a politically motivated attempt to destroy both Pinarayi Vijayan and the party.

The debate intensified further after Bineesh Kodiyeri himself was seen among CPI-M workers protesting outside Vijayan’s residence during the raid.

“Pinarayi’s family is also my party family. This is not the time to think about how others reacted when I faced problems,” Bineesh said.

The ED has so far frozen around Rs 18.36 crore across 242 accounts linked to the case and seized digital evidence, bank records and Veena Vijayan’s mobile phone during coordinated raids across Kerala and Bengaluru.

Ironically, while Bineesh was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in 2023, his repeated pleas to restore his CPI-M membership have still not been accepted by the state leadership.

–IANS

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