ED seeks FIR against Kerala CM Vijayan, family in CMRL case

The central investigating agency has dispatched an official communication to the Kerala Director General of Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, citing evidence gathered during its probe into the CMRL matter, according to sources familiar with the development.

The request marks an escalation in the investigation into allegations of financial irregularities surrounding the metro rail project. The ED's move comes after completion of significant investigative work by the agency, which has been examining the flow of funds linked to the infrastructure initiative.

The communication names Chief Minister Vijayan, his daughter, and Mohamed Riyas, who is married to the CM's daughter, as individuals against whom the agency believes a first information report should be registered by state authorities. The ED typically issues such formal requests when it concludes sufficient evidence exists to warrant criminal prosecution.

Kerala Police's response to the ED's request will be crucial in determining the next phase of the investigation. The matter has attracted considerable attention given the seniority of the officials named in the inquiry. The CMRL project, one of Kerala's major infrastructure developments, has been the subject of scrutiny over the past several months.