Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 4: Kerala's political landscape has been rocked by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) charge sheet naming Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan, as an accused in a high-profile bribery case. The opposition has launched a scathing attack, with Congress Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan demanding the immediate resignation of the Chief Minister.

Veena Vijayan has been listed as the second accused in the SFIO charge sheet filed at the Special Court for Economic Offences in Kochi. The case pertains to alleged illegal gratification amounting to Rs 2.70 cr paid by Kochi-based Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to her company, Exalogic, in return for mining-related favours.

"This is not like the past SNC Lavalin or gold smuggling scandals where the Chief Minister managed to deflect pressure. This time, his own daughter has been caught receiving money without offering any services — clear evidence of bribery," Satheesan told media on Friday.

He drew parallels to past incidents involving other parties, stating, “During the UPA era, when a relative of then Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal was accused, the CPI-M had demanded his resignation. But now, when Vijayan’s own daughter is in the dock under the PMLA Act, the same standards of political morality are being ignored.”

Satheesan accused the CPI-M of applying double standards. “When Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s son was arrested, the party didn’t defend him this way. Why the special protection for Vijayan? Is the national leadership afraid of him?” he asked.

He further questioned the legitimacy of payments received by Exalogic. “Why is it that only Veena’s company received crores without providing any service? If this had been the Congress, the CPI-M would have raised the pitch on ethics and demanded resignations.”

In response to the charge sheet and ongoing political developments, the Congress has launched statewide protests seeking Vijayan’s ouster. Despite the CPI-M's firm backing of the Chief Minister, political observers say internal pressures may mount, especially with key elections — including the Nilambur Assembly by-poll and local body elections — around the corner.

Sources indicate that the CPI-M’s central leadership is considering legal action to challenge the SFIO’s charge sheet, wary of the political fallout ahead of next year's crucial Assembly polls.

As the opposition tightens the noose, the Chief Minister’s office has remained silent, while the political temperature in Kerala continues to rise.