Archive · 4 Sep 2026
Kerala Government Expands Probes Into Pinarayi Vijayan Era
Kerala’s current government is investigating several decisions made by the previous government.
The investigations look at alleged problems in buying bleaching powder and Ayurvedic medicines.
Other investigations concern a proposed visit by Lionel Messi, the public-service examination system, and alleged police misconduct.
Officials are also examining claims that excise officers collected monthly payments from bar owners.
These investigations involve Vigilance teams and special investigation teams.
The previous government was led by Pinarayi Vijayan.
The current investigations are politically important because they keep attention on his years in office.
Investigators and courts will decide whether any wrongdoing actually occurred.
The V.D. Satheesan government has expanded investigations into decisions made during the Pinarayi Vijayan administration.
Vigilance will examine an alleged Rs 7.32 crore bleaching-powder procurement irregularity.
A second Vigilance inquiry concerns alleged Rs 2.4 crore purchase irregularities at Oushadhi.
Existing investigations cover the proposed Lionel Messi visit, the Kerala PSC examination system, and alleged police excesses in Alappuzha.
The probes echo Pinarayi Vijayan’s 2016 scrutiny of decisions by the outgoing Oommen Chandy government.
- Who
- The V.D. Satheesan government, Vigilance Department, and several special investigation teams are examining allegations linked to the Pinarayi Vijayan administration.
- What
- Investigations have expanded to alleged procurement irregularities, examination-system problems, police excesses, excise-related payments, and the proposed Lionel Messi visit.
- When
- The latest Vigilance inquiries were announced a day before the report; the broader investigations cover decisions from the previous administration’s decade-long tenure.
- Where
- The investigations concern Kerala, including Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam.
- Why
- They were ordered to examine allegations of financial irregularities, administrative problems, and alleged official misconduct linked to the previous government.
- Bleaching-powder inquiry
- Vigilance will investigate an alleged Rs 7.32 crore procurement irregularity through the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.
- Oushadhi inquiry
- Vigilance will examine alleged purchase-related irregularities worth Rs 2.4 crore at Oushadhi.
- Messi investigation
- An SIT headed by ADGP P. Vijayan is investigating alleged financial irregularities surrounding the proposed visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team.
- PSC investigation
- A separate SIT is examining alleged irregularities in the Kerala Public Service Commission examination system.
- Alappuzha police inquiry
- Another team is investigating allegations of police excesses in Alappuzha.
- Excise allegations
- A Vigilance inquiry is examining claims that excise officials collected monthly payments from bar owners in Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam.
- Political precedent
- The approach recalls Pinarayi Vijayan’s 2016 scrutiny of Cabinet decisions made near the end of the Oommen Chandy government.