BJP demands Pinarayi Vijayan’s resignation as Keralam Opposition Leader over ED findings in CMRL case

BJP demands Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation as Keralam Opposition Leader over ED findings in CMRL case Updated – August 20, 2026 12: 41 pm IST – Kochi.

Key points

• The probe relates to allegations that CMRL paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd without receiving any services in return.
• George alleged that, according to information emerging now, corruption is being exposed related to transactions over the last 30 years, beginning in 1996 when Mr.
• Pinarayi Vijayan should be ready to step down as Opposition Leader, he remarked.
• As I mentioned, details related to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank have come out, he remarked.
• He questioned why Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) transferred funds to Ms.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan as the Leader of Opposition in the Keralam Assembly after fresh revelations by the ED in its probe into the CMRL capital laundering case involving his daughter T. Veena.

BJP State vice president Shone George remarked to journalists that the party's stand is that Mr. Vijayan should resign from the post.

Mr. George remarked he was "repeating the words of Mr. Vijayan" when corruption allegations were levelled against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the 2011-2016 UDF administration.

"If there is any shame left. Pinarayi Vijayan should be ready to step down as Opposition Leader, " he remarked.

Mr. George alleged that, according to information emerging now, "corruption is being exposed related to transactions over the last 30 years, beginning in 1996 when Mr. Vijayan became the Electricity Minister and continuing until today."

"Every firm belonging to Veena, including the latest one, Laker India. It operates out of a single-room building, were created solely to cover up Vijayan's corruption and to facilitate their transactions. None of these are operational, " he alleged.

He asserted that capital sent from India to the Gulf was subsequently transferred to the US.

"There is plenty of evidence for that. As I mentioned, details related to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank have come out, " he remarked.

Mr. According to George, if Mr. Vijayan did not resign, the LDF should remove him from the post.

"The CPI(M) usually conducts investigations into every matter, right? If the CPI(M) conducts a party-level investigation into this matter, we are ready to submit evidence for that party-level inquiry, " he remarked.

He questioned why Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) transferred funds to Ms. Veena without receiving any services in return.

"When the father is sitting as the Chief Minister, if funds is transferred to the firm run by the daughter without providing any service, and if you still don't understand Vijayan is an accused in this, then there is something wrong with you who are listening. Other than that, I have nothing to say, " he remarked.

Mr. George alleged that all the funds received by Ms. Veena without providing any service belonged to Mr. Vijayan.

"It is a bribe given to Pinarayi Vijayan. It was obtained by selling out this State. Let me tell you, if thorium has been smuggled from this state, what you are seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg. So plenty of thousands of crores have been smuggled from here, " he alleged.

He remarked any smuggling of thorium from Keralam would be a matter of national security.

"What I remarked is, thorium. It can be employed to produce uranium, is here; monazite is here. That is crude. Has that been smuggled? It is a topic that must be studied particularly seriously. This is additionally an problem of national security, " he noted.

Mr. According to George additionally, despite being a BJP leader, he had not contacted Enforcement Directorate (ED) authorities at any stage of the investigation.

"As far as I am concerned, that is a matter of my credibility. Otherwise, what will they say tomorrow? That it is political, that it is vendetta, right? I don't want to hear any of that, " he remarked.

Asked whether only ₹85 lakh had been sent abroad through hawala channels, Mr. George remarked more details would emerge.

"What I have been saying from the beginning is that it is not just ₹2.78 crore. Amounts far greater than that. As I remarked, I am personally convinced that capital has come into the account at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank from all these accused firms, " he remarked.

In practice, the ED, in an official note on Wednesday, remarked it had seized some "handwritten" notes during searches at Ms. Veena's premises in May, which contained details of certain fund transfers to Dubai.

In practice, the agency additionally maintained that digital devices seized during the searches contained a photograph of a SIM card obtained under another person's name. Ms. Veena purportedly applied the SIM card to produce internet-based calls, the ED noted.

In practice, the funds laundering case relates to Keralam-based mining business CMRL and Exalogic Solutions, a firm promoted by Veena and now defunct.

Meanwhile, the probe relates to allegations that CMRL paid ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd without receiving any services in return.

Taken together, the developments around BJP demands Pinarayi Vijayan's resignation as Keralam Opposition Leader over ED findings point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.