CPI(M) rallies behind Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL pay-off case; Congress demands his resignation

CPI(M) leaders support Pinarayi Vijayan amid SFIO case against his daughter, denouncing it as politically motivated.

Leaders of the CPI(M) on Friday (April 4, 2025) rallied behind Kerala Chief Minister and party Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan after the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs filed its final complaint in the case against Mr. Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena, in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) pay-off case.

Polit Bureau coordinator Prakash Karat said the party would fight the case, which he claimed was aimed at the Chief Minister’s family, legally and politically.

M.V. Govindan, Kerala State secretary of the party, questioned the timing of the SFIO move, terming it an attempt to take the sheen off the ongoing congress of the CPI(M). He reiterated that the case was between two companies (CMRL and the now-defunct Exalogic, owned by Ms. Veena), which was being appropriated for political ends.

Polit Bureau member M.A. Baby and party central committee member and Kerala Industries Minister P. Rajeeve also viewed the case as the Centre’s attempt to target the Chief Minister and the party.

Meanwhile, speaking in Delhi, All India Congress Committee general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal asked Mr. Vijayan to show “high ethical standards”, as the SFIO case against his daughter, which alleged “receiving kickbacks from a company without providing any services whatsoever,” smacked of corruption.

Speaking in Ernakulam, Kerala’s Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan sought Mr. Vijayan’s resignation, stating that “he has a moral responsibility”.

“The case wasn’t politically motivated, but one of corruption and black money,” he alleged.