ED Raid on Pinarayi Vijayan’s Residence Sparks Violence in Thiruvananthapuram
A team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials conducted a raid at the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram early Wednesday morning, triggering violent protests by CPI(M) workers. The raid, which began around 5 AM at Vijayan’s Baker Junction home, saw ED personnel recording statements from Vijayan, his wife, and daughter Veena for several hours. As the ED team attempted to leave after an eight-hour operation, a mob of SFI and DYFI activists pelted stones and bottles at the vehicles, smashing windows of three cars and injuring a CRPF woman officer, an ED official, and a driver.
The violence escalated despite efforts by local CPI(M) leaders to control the crowd, with activists throwing objects at the gate where eight CRPF personnel were stationed with loaded weapons. The attackers later fled to a local party office. M.A. Baby, a senior CPI(M) leader, was arrested in connection with the incident. The ED has jurisdiction to try the case anywhere in India, and the accused could be remanded in Tihar Jail in Delhi. The raid is part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities, including a suspicious payment of Rs 1.72 crore to Vijayan’s daughter. The ED had previously conducted a raid at Vijayan’s home in Dharmadam but found nothing incriminating. The incident marks a significant escalation in political tensions in Kerala, with the state’s law and order situation under scrutiny.
