New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, October 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court has emerged as the next legal battleground for Kerala Chief Minister-turned-Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and his family, following a setback in the Kerala High Court, with separate investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) adding to the political pressure on the CPI(M).
Vijayan and his family are expected to approach the apex court on Friday. The outcome could have implications not only for the veteran CPI(M) leader but also for a party attempting to recover from its historic electoral defeat in Kerala.
Vijayan is the first accused in a case involving alleged corruption linked to his daughter, T. Veena, and her now-defunct IT company, Exalogic. Veena is the second accused in both the ED and vigilance cases.
A separate case concerning alleged hawala transactions names former minister and CPI(M) legislator P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Vijayan’s son-in-law, as the first accused.
The CPI(M) leadership has rallied behind Vijayan and ruled out his resignation as Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly. The stand has brought renewed scrutiny of the party’s position on political accountability, particularly given its history of demanding action against leaders of rival parties facing corruption allegations.
The controversy has also revived memories of the SNC-Lavalin case, when former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat defended Vijayan, arguing that he need not resign as the party’s state secretary because he did not hold a government post.
The legal developments come as the CPI(M) reviews the reasons for its electoral rout in April 2026. The Left’s strength in the Assembly fell from 99 seats to 35, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 102 seats and the BJP secured three.
Vijayan, 82, has remained the party’s dominant leader since the late 1990s. While the leadership’s backing has settled the immediate question of his position, the investigations continue to pose legal and political challenges as the CPI(M) seeks to rebuild public confidence.
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