Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 19: A fresh political storm has erupted in Kerala as public activist Jemon Puthenpurackal hit back at Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s top aide K.M. Abraham, warning the CM against initiating a parallel probe that could undermine a court-ordered CBI investigation.

The escalation comes days after K.M. Abraham — Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and former Chief Secretary — wrote to Vijayan demanding an inquiry into an alleged conspiracy by Puthenpurackal and two others. Abraham is currently under scrutiny following the Kerala High Court’s directive last week for a CBI probe into allegations of disproportionate assets, based on a decade-long legal campaign led by Puthenpurackal.

In a strongly worded letter to the Chief Minister on Saturday, Puthenpurackal reminded him that any state-initiated investigation parallel to the CBI’s would be “illegal and procedurally invalid.” He called Abraham’s request a “deliberate distraction and a cover-up attempt” to derail the central probe.

The CM now faces growing pressure, with calls for Abraham's resignation gaining traction. Despite initially defending Abraham, Vijayan has now struck a more cautious tone, stating the official has “grievances” and is exploring legal remedies — suggesting the government may not act immediately.

Abraham, who currently heads the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), addressed his staff in a Vishu message, saying he would leave decisions about his position to the Chief Minister — further indicating mounting uncertainty around his role.

As the CBI prepares to formally serve notice, Abraham is reportedly planning to challenge the High Court’s order by moving a division bench or possibly the Supreme Court.

With both Abraham and Puthenpurackal’s letters now before the Chief Minister, the controversy is shaping into a critical test of the state government’s stance on transparency, accountability, and political loyalty.