CM Vijayan slams ED after bribery scandal, seeks PM Modi's intervention

Kozhikode: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said the recent bribery case involving individuals linked to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is a matter of grave concern. “There have been several complaints against the ED, including allegations of financial misconduct, but no concrete evidence had surfaced until now,” the CM said while addressing the media during the government's fourth anniversary celebrations.

"There have long been suspicions of questionable dealings involving the ED, and now they have been caught red-handed. This raises serious questions about the credibility of a central investigative agency,” he said. The chief minister urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to restore public confidence in its functioning. 

CPM State Secretary M V Govindan also recently criticised the ED following the bribery allegations.

The CM’s comments come in the wake of the arrest of two men posing as ED agents in Ernakulam. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) nabbed the accused while they were accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe from a Kollam-based industrialist. The VACB has named ED Assistant Director Sekhar Kumar as the first accused in the FIR, and his involvement is under investigation.

ASHA workers' protest
Speaking to the media, the CM also said that the state government will not take any more steps to resolve the ongoing protest by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). He said that the government had already taken measures to address their concerns, but these efforts were unsuccessful.

NH-66 collapse in Malappuram
Additionally, the CM commented on the NH-66 road collapse in Malappuram, calling it 'unfortunate'. He noted that while National Highway expansion projects are progressing smoothly across the state, the government will examine whether geographical factors were adequately considered during the planning of NH-66. “We will be holding discussions with the NHAI to examine if there were any lapses and to ensure that future expansions are carried out more effectively and safely,” he said.

SilverLine project
The CM expressed confidence that the state's railway development, such as the SilverLine project, would become a reality--if not today, then tomorrow--despite opposition from opposition parties and the Centre for political reasons. "No one should think that things will always remain the same. The railway development of our state will become a reality. If not today, then tomorrow."

"We thought that if such a project were to take place, no one would oppose it--particularly at a time when the Government of India speaks of the nation’s progress through such initiatives. But a very, very unfortunate situation arose. The project was denied permission," the Chief Minister said. He accused the Centre of "siding" with those who oppose the state government on the SilverLine matter, and said such a stance was taken for political reasons.

The CM said that when his state government halted the project due to opposition, 'Metroman' E Sreedharan came up with a suggestion on which there were not many differences. "Although the matter was taken up with the Union Railway Minister by me, and later with the Central Government by the state government's special representative in Delhi, K V Thomas, there has been no response," he lamented.

Custodial harassment of Dalit woman
The CM described the alleged custodial harassment of a Dalit woman at a police station in Thiruvananthapuram as "unacceptable". He said action has already been taken against the police personnel responsible following an investigation into the matter. However, the CM also defended his office, which the woman had approached to lodge a complaint against the police. He said the CMO took necessary steps the very next day, forwarding the woman's complaint to authorities for follow-up. "Detention of the woman at the police station was something that should not have occurred," Vijayan said in response to a question.

"She approached the office (CMO) and handed over the complaint. They assured her that her complaint would be examined. The complaint was examined the next day itself, and action had been taken in that regard." He said the woman also sought the intervention of the CMO in the case registered against her, which was not possible.

"It was a matter in which the police had to take action, and she was convinced about it. At the same time, action has been taken against those police personnel who had acted in a manner which they should not have," the CM added.

Vijayan said that the state has witnessed nine years of development and social progress under the LDF government. A progress report will be presented on Friday. Listing various development projects, the chief minister also criticised the UDF over the Vizhinjam International Seaport project. He accused the Centre of financially squeezing Kerala by withholding funds that the state rightfully deserves.