CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby defends Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter in 'illegal payment' case

TOI City Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Apr 7, 2025, 12:41 IST

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CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby defended Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T Veena, in an 'illegal payment' case. Baby claimed the investigation is politically motivated to target Vijayan and called it undemocratic. The case involves allegations of Rs 2.7 crore payment without services.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby

NEW DELHI: CPI(M)’s new general secretary, M A Baby on Monday defended Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, T Veena, after she was named in an “illegal payment�?case by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
Speaking a day after assuming the party’s top role, Baby dismissed the allegations against Veena, calling them unfounded and politically driven.
"To attack the CPI(M) and the LDF in Kerala, they have to hit at its head and its head is Pinarayi Vijayan," he said.
According to Baby, the charges were brought against Veena solely due to her relationship with the CM, who he referred to as the “head�?of both the CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.

He argued that there is no wrongdoing on Veena’s part, insisting the case does not hold when the facts are examined closely. Baby described the investigation as a political ploy aimed at damaging the party leadership indirectly by targeting Vijayan’s daughter.
“The perpetrators hope that this blow will finally hit the Left veteran,�?adding that the probe reflects “the worst form of an anti-democratic approach,�?he said.
The CPI(M) leader also criticised a tribunal under the Union Finance Ministry, which had reportedly pointed out that Veena is related to a senior political leader in Kerala. Baby believes this identification marked the beginning of what he sees as an unfair campaign.
When questioned about reports of the Centre approving prosecution steps against Veena, he remarked that everyone is aware of how central agencies are operating today.
He also challenged critics to explain what unlawful advantages a Kochi-based private mining firm may have received from the Kerala government for signing a deal with Veena’s IT company.
The remarks come amid demands from the Congress and BJP for CM Vijayan’s resignation, following media reports claiming that Veena allegedly accepted Rs 2.70 crore from the company without offering any services in return.
So far, neither Veena nor the Chief Minister has commented publicly on the case.

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