The Kerala Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) has reportedly issued notices to CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan, CPM MP (RS) John Brittas and other leaders in connection with the May 27 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials by CPM cadres outside the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister and CPM supremo Pinarayi Vijayan.
The attack took place as ED officials were returning after conducting a raid at Vijayan’s residence in connection with allegations surrounding the CMRL–Exalogic scam involving his daughter Veena Vijayan.
The notices were reportedly issued on August 5, marking a significant development in the probe into the attack and the alleged conspiracy behind it.
The SIT is now examining the role of CPM leaders who were present at the spot when the ED officials’ convoy was attacked.
The SIT is inquiring if there was any conspiracy behind the attack. State and district leaders of CPM were reportedly present there during the incident outside Pinarayi Vijayan’s house.
The SIT is also inquiring into the role of Bineesh Kodiyeri, the son of the deceased CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. His phones are also being examined.
Twenty CPM attackers were included in the list of the accused. Twenty-five men have been arrested. Many of them got bail from the High Court. Now, the conspiracy angle is being examined in view of the imminent preparation of the charge sheet.
Earlier, cyber experts had examined the mobile phones of the accused. Voice messages were reportedly found asking party men, including CITU (CPM-led trade union Centre of Indian Trade Unions) workers, to be present outside Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence. But, according to reports, there is no evidence of inciting attacks. The SIT has interrogated some leaders. The interrogation will continue in the days to come. So far, twenty-two CPM men have got bail. Six, including CPM leader I.P. Binu, got bail on August 5.
A vehicle driver, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, and an ED search team member were hurt in the mob attack when the mob attacked the agency’s convoy with bricks and rods. Additional minor injuries were reported by local police personnel during subsequent crowd-control measures. Kerala Police booked around 300 identifiable persons and made multiple arrests.
The May 27 attack took place after ED officials completed searches at multiple locations linked to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Mohammed Riaz, including residences in Dharmadam, Kannur and Thiruvananthapuram. The ED team had also searched the Kozhikode residence of Mohammed Riaz. The searches were linked to the CMRL case involving Veena Vijayan.
According to the earlier report, CPM workers attacked the ED vehicles with iron rods and bricks after they came out of Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence, breaking the vehicle glass and injuring a driver in the eye. The violence took place in the presence of senior CPM leaders, including M.V. Govindan and Kadakampally Surendran.
A subsequent report said a Thiruvananthapuram court rejected the bail applications of 11 CPM activists arrested in connection with the attack.
Cases had been registered against approximately 300 identifiable CPM men, with the FIR invoking provisions including attempt to murder, assault on public servants, unlawful assembly, rioting and wrongful restraint. The Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act was also invoked over the use of sticks, stones and bricks to vandalise ED vehicles.
The earlier report also said that some of the accused had allegedly taken shelter in CPM party offices after the incident, while CPM leaders maintained that the violence was not carried out by party workers. The latest SIT inquiry into the alleged conspiracy now brings the presence and role of CPM leaders at the scene under further scrutiny.
