Attack on ED officials: Kerala HC dismisses plea for CBI probe

The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed the plea for a CBI investigation into the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at the rented Thiruvananthapuram residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his daughter on May 27.
The court observed that the local police investigation was advancing adequately and hence required no transfer of the probe.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar closed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) after reviewing a comprehensive status report from the state government detailing the investigation’s progress.

In the previous hearing, the Court ordered the state to submit an affidavit outlining its actions regarding the FIR registered over the “attack.” Today, the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner filed a statement confirming that the investigation is moving forward effectively.
According to the filed statement, Museum Police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Investigators gathered extensive physical evidence from the scene, including glass fragments and soil samples, alongside scientific, forensic, photographic, and videographic data.

Advertisement

The police stated that 25 identified accused individuals have been arrested and placed in judicial custody. The investigation is active, and probe teams have successfully collected the medical documentation for all injured parties, including ED personnel and suspects.

The police also stated that notices have been served to multiple media organizations to secure video recordings of the event. To date, statements have been taken from 44 witnesses, and the police are using the gathered video evidence to identify further suspects.

The state rejected claims of a biased investigation, denied that influential individuals were being protected, and dismissed allegations of trade union interference or digital evidence tampering as completely groundless.
Upon noting the progress report, the bench observed that transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) was currently unwarranted.

“Based on the report filed by the state, there is satisfactory progress in the investigation. We do not find any reason to direct an investigation by the CBI at this stage,” the Court said.