SP Vikraman to head SIT probing into bribery and hawala charges against Pinarayi Vijayan, family

Thiruvananthapuram: Following a letter from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe bribery and hawala allegations raised against Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan and his family. SP Vikraman has been appointed as the lead investigating officer, with explicit instructions to complete the probe within a stipulated timeframe.

ADGP (Crime Branch) H Venkatesh will supervise the investigation. The probe targets Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena, her husband and former Minister P A Mohamed Riyas, alongside several of Riyas’s close associates. The ED's allegations accuse Pinarayi Vijayan of accepting bribes, while claiming that Veena, Riyas and their associates were involved in hawala transactions amounting to ₹25 crore.

Earlier, the State Police Chief informed the government that two separate investigations might be required to examine the two distinct sets of allegations. However, the government decided that a single SIT probe would evaluate the initial findings first.

The development follows major political friction, with the CPM resolving to mount a strong political defence after the ED communicated with the police chief. To counter political narratives accusing the government of aligning with central agencies to target opposition figures, the government opted against immediately registering a First Information Report (FIR). An FIR will only be lodged if the SIT uncovers concrete evidence during its preliminary investigation.