KPCC president and Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Friday reiterated that the state government would take a legal route on the Enforcement Directorate's request to register a corruption case against former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family.

The cautious approach comes as the ED action against the CPM leadership has coincided with renewed attention to allegations involving senior leaders of the Congress-led UDF in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) case.

For the Congress, the issue has the potential to become a political Pandora's box. A stronger attack on Vijayan and the CPM could invite counter-allegations and whataboutery over payments allegedly linked to senior UDF leaders. The BJP, meanwhile, could use the competing allegations to target both the CPM and Congress over their positions on the case.

Joseph said the government was seeking legal advice before deciding its next course of action.

"Based on a Cabinet decision, legal advice is being sought on the steps to be taken by the government. Once legal counsel is received, appropriate lawful action will follow," Joseph told the media.

ED seeks FIR against Vijayan, family

The ED had recently written to Kerala DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar seeking registration of an FIR against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and his son-in-law and MLA PA Muhammad Riyas in connection with the alleged CMRL bribery case.

The agency based its request on what it described as evidence collected during its investigation and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, in the guise of payments for IT consultancy services.

The agency searched premises linked to Veena in May and subsequently questioned her.

The CPM has described the ED action as politically motivated, while the Congress has sought answers from the communist party over the allegations against Vijayan and his family.

But the issue becomes more complicated for the Congress-led UDF because the CMRL case also contains references to senior leaders from its own camp.

CMRL statement brings UDF leaders into focus

The political sensitivity increased after a partial copy of a statement given by CMRL's former chief financial officer, K.S. Suresh Kumar, to the ED in April 2024 emerged.

The statement concerned abbreviations found in the diary of CMRL's former managing director, S. Sasidharan Kartha. Suresh Kumar had previously given similar explanations before the Income Tax Department's Interim Settlement Board.

According to the statement, Suresh Kumar identified the initials 'RC' as referring to Congress leader and present Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, 'KK' as referring to present Industries and IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty and 'IK' as referring to former UDF minister and IUML leader Ibrahim Kunju. The IUML is a major ally of the Congress in the UDF.

Suresh Kumar also said 'PV' referred to Pinarayi Vijayan.

The statements have therefore brought leaders from both the CPM and the UDF into the political discussion surrounding the CMRL allegations.

Wider CMRL allegations complicate Congress attack

UDF leaders had earlier acknowledged that CMRL had made payments to a party fund and that the money had been received.

Vijayan, however, has maintained that the initials 'PV' did not refer to him.

Chennithala and Kunhalikutty had not denied receiving money but maintained that the payments were contributions to the party fund.

The emergence of Suresh Kumar's statement has consequently given the CMRL issue a wider political dimension, with the allegations and references extending beyond the CPM leadership.

That creates a difficult political calculation for the Congress-led UDF. While the party can question the CPM over the ED's allegations against Vijayan and his family, an aggressive campaign could prompt the CPM to raise the allegations involving UDF leaders in response.

Government sticks to legal route

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan had already indicated a cautious approach to the ED's request on Wednesday.

Satheesan said the state government had not taken a decision on the agency's recommendation. He said the material provided by the central agency would be examined and that the government would proceed through established legal channels.

Joseph's statement on Friday effectively reiterated that position, with the government waiting for legal advice before deciding on further action.

The approach keeps the immediate focus on the legal process rather than turning the ED request into a wider political confrontation.

For the CPM and Congress-led UDF, however, the CMRL issue carries risks on both sides. The CPM faces allegations concerning Vijayan and his family, while references to senior UDF leaders have made it harder for the Congress to pursue the matter without opening itself to counter-attacks.

The BJP could potentially use the competing allegations and the positions taken by both fronts to target the CPM and Congress over their responses to central-agency investigations.