The BJP on Thursday demanded the resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan as the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly following fresh findings by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) money laundering probe. The case also involves Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T., and her now-defunct company Exalogic Solutions.

BJP state vice president Shone George said the party wants Vijayan to step down from the post. He also referred to statements made by Vijayan when corruption allegations were raised against former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the 2011-2016 UDF government.

"If there is any shame left... if there is any shame left, Pinarayi Vijayan should be ready to step down as Opposition Leader," he said.

George alleged that the latest information points to corruption involving transactions spread over nearly three decades. He said the alleged transactions date back to 1996, when Vijayan became the Electricity Minister, and continue to the present.

He also alleged that companies linked to Veena were created to hide alleged corruption and facilitate financial transactions. George specifically referred to Laker India, the latest company linked to Veena, and claimed that it operates from a single-room building.

"Every company belonging to Veena, including the latest one, Laker India, which operates out of a single-room building, were created solely to cover up Vijayan's corruption and to facilitate their transactions. None of these are operational," he alleged.

George further claimed that money transferred from India to the Gulf was later moved to the United States. He pointed to information related to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank as evidence of the alleged transactions.

"There is plenty of evidence for that... as I mentioned, details related to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank have come out," he said.

The BJP leader said Vijayan should resign on his own. If he refuses, George said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) should remove him from the post. He also offered to provide evidence if the CPI(M) decides to conduct an internal investigation into the allegations.

"The CPI(M) usually conducts investigations into every issue, right? If the CPI(M) conducts a party-level investigation into this matter, we are ready to submit evidence for that party-level inquiry," he said.

George also questioned why CMRL transferred money to Veena’s company without receiving services in return. He alleged that the payments were made while Vijayan was serving as Chief Minister and claimed that the money received by Veena actually belonged to her father.

"When the father is sitting as the Chief Minister, if money is transferred to the firm run by the daughter without providing any service, and if you still don't understand Vijayan is an accused in this, then there is something wrong with you who are listening. Other than that, I have nothing to say," he said.

George alleged that the money received by Veena without providing services amounted to a bribe to Vijayan. He further claimed that the alleged corruption involved the sale of state resources. He also raised allegations about the possible smuggling of thorium and monazite from Kerala.

"All the money received by Veena without providing any service belonged to Vijayan," he alleged.

"It is a bribe given to Pinarayi Vijayan. It was obtained by selling out this state. Let me tell you, if thorium has been smuggled from this state, what you are seeing now is only the tip of the iceberg. So many thousands of crores have been smuggled from here," he alleged.

George said any alleged smuggling of thorium would have implications for national security. He pointed out that Kerala has thorium and monazite, which he said could have strategic importance.

"What I said is, thorium, which can be used to produce uranium, is here; monazite is here. That is crude. Has that been smuggled? It is a topic that must be studied very seriously. This is also an issue of national security," he said.

George also clarified that he had not contacted ED officials during the investigation despite being a BJP leader. He said he wanted to avoid any suggestion that the probe was politically motivated.

"As far as I am concerned, that is a matter of my credibility. Otherwise, what will they say tomorrow? That it is political, that it is vendetta, right? I don't want to hear any of that," he said.

When asked whether only Rs 85 lakh had been transferred abroad through hawala channels, George said further details were expected to emerge. He maintained that the alleged financial transactions involved much more than the Rs 2.78 crore already linked to the case.

"What I have been saying from the beginning is that it is not just Rs 2.78 crores. Amounts far greater than that... As I said, I am personally convinced that money has come into the account at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank from all these accused companies," he said.

The ED said on Wednesday that it had seized handwritten notes during searches at Veena’s premises in May. According to the agency, the notes contained details of certain fund transfers to Dubai. The ED also said digital devices seized during the searches contained a photograph of a SIM card registered in another person’s name. The agency alleged that Veena used the SIM card to make internet-based calls.

The money laundering probe centres on Kerala-based mining company CMRL and Exalogic Solutions, a company promoted by Veena and now defunct. The investigation concerns allegations that CMRL paid Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions without receiving services in return. The fresh ED findings have now intensified the BJP’s demand for Vijayan’s resignation as Leader of the Opposition.