Less than a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed a plea filed by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday began conducting raids at 10 premises, including the residences of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Public Works Minister P A Mohammed Riyas, who is married to Pinarayi's daughter, Veena Vijayan.

CMRL had approached the court challenging the ED probe into allegations of bribery and money laundering linked to payments allegedly made to Veena and her firm, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd.

The petition sought to quash the proceedings initiated by the ED arising out of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and to obtain a stay on the proceedings, including the summons issued against the officials. It is alleged that CMRL has handed bribes to Veena and her company, as well as other public servants and carried out illegal financial transactions.

Following the raid at Riyas's residence in Kozhikode, the CPM Kozhikode district secretariat decided to organise strong protests across the district on Thursday. Other constituent parties of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are also expected to participate in the protests.

The raid began at the house in Kottooli around 6 am. It is learnt that Riyas was not present at the residence during the search. ED officials reportedly left after conducting a search that lasted about an hour.

Reacting to the raid, Muhammed Riyas said in a Facebook post that he would continue his fight against the Sangh Parivar till his last breath. “Attack me from all sides if you want… But I will never bow before the Sangh Parivar. I will fight till my last breath,” the post said.

Meanwhile, the CPM organised a protest rally in Kozhikode against the ED raids conducted at various houses linked to CPM leaders.

Former Minister K T Jaleel said that even if both the Central and Kerala governments came down with full force against Pinarayi Vijayan, they would not succeed. “Pinarayi Vijayan strongly opposed Narendra Modi’s political ideology from top to bottom and proved his fighting spirit when a Union Minister came to Kerala and declared that his government would be brought down. Those who know him closely are certain that he would never do anything dishonourable,” Jaleel said.

Meanwhile, P K Kunhalikutty said that allegations linking Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s Delhi visit with the ED raids were baseless.