ED pursuing politically motivated cases, alleges CPI(M) Kerala leader

The CPI(M) Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan on Tuesday levelled fresh allegations against the Enforcement Directorate, contending that the central agency operates with a pronounced political bias in its investigation pattern. Govindan asserted that while the ED pursues cases against opposition leaders with vigour, it has failed to pursue comparable financial misappropriation charges involving BJP functionaries with similar intensity.

The Kerala communist leader further claimed that the ED's modus operandi involves identifying political targets first and subsequently launching investigations to construct evidence against them. This approach, Govindan suggested, represented a departure from established investigative practices that typically begin with evidence before determining suspects.

The allegations reflect growing concerns among opposition parties regarding the perceived selective application of enforcement actions by central agencies. The CPI(M) has previously raised similar objections regarding multiple investigations into party-affiliated individuals and organisations.

The ED, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, has consistently maintained that its investigations are based on credible evidence of financial irregularities and are conducted independently of political considerations. The agency's recent high-profile cases have drawn scrutiny from multiple quarters, with critics questioning the timing and targets of several inquiries.