ED Issues Notice at Pinarayi Vijayans Residence, Orders Appearance in Kochi

Thiruvananthapuram, October 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has placed a five-page notice at the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, instructing him to appear before the agency in Kochi on Friday. This action took place on Saturday in Thiruvananthapuram. According to reports, no one at the residence accepted the notice, prompting ED officials to affix it to the front door.The agency had previously attempted to send the notice through postal service. This incident drew political reactions, with senior CPI(M) leader and former state minister V. Shivan Kutty arriving at the residence after hearing about the ED's visit. Speaking to the media, Shivan Kutty revealed that ED officials had initially come to inquire about Vijayan's whereabouts. The staff informed them that Vijayan was not present and was in Kannur. Later, officials returned with police officers.Shivan Kutty stated that since no one was willing to accept the notice, the ED had no choice but to post it at the entrance. Criticizing the ED's actions, Shivan Kutty questioned why the agency did not simply visit Vijayan in Kannur, where his address is well-known. He expressed confusion over the necessity of this method, stating, "I don’t understand why the ED did this. If they wanted, they could have met him in Kannur." He described the situation as serious, noting that the matter is currently pending in the Supreme Court and alleging that the agency is operating beyond its jurisdiction.When asked about Vijayan's potential appearance in Kochi as instructed by the notice, Shivan Kutty declined to speculate, saying, "You will have to ask him." The notice was placed at the same residence where the ED had conducted a raid a few months earlier, seizing a red diary believed to contain significant information regarding the two-time Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly. However, ED officials maintain that posting the notice in this manner is standard procedure when it is not accepted.