In Kerala, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) compensated a taxi driver with around Rs 1.75 lakh for the damage caused to his vehicle by CPI-M workers during protests. The incident occurred in May when the ED team was leaving after conducting searches at the residence of Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan. The taxi, hired by the ED, was extensively damaged in the attack by CPI-M workers as the officials were exiting the premises.
The compensation was given to the Thiruvananthapuram-based driver, who was caught in the crossfire of a politically charged confrontation despite having no role in the investigation. Initially, the CPI-M had announced that it would compensate the driver for the losses, but later backed away from its promise. The ED’s decision to settle the claim has brought relief to the driver after nearly two months of uncertainty.
The attack led to the arrest of 25 individuals, with only one accused granted bail so far. The remaining 24 individuals are in judicial custody, highlighting the seriousness with which the courts are treating the allegations. The ED’s move to compensate the driver is seen as an unusual gesture by a central investigating agency. Politically, this incident is likely to invite criticism of the CPI-M for not honoring its commitment despite the ED ultimately compensating the driver.
