Not so long ago, CPI (M) Kerala state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan took a temporary leave of absence from his post citing his health and further treatments. However, many in the political circles believed that the decision followed the controversies that had plagued the Kodiyeri family at the time. Many experts claimed that putting someone as A Vijayaraghavan instead, meant that Balakrishnan had plans of returning as soon as the controversies died down.
However, things are not looking so well for the family. In a recent turn of events, Binoy Kodiyeri has been named in a rape case as filed by the Mumbai police based on the complaint of a Bihari woman. The 33-year-old had alleged that Binoy had raped her under the pretext of marriage. The police have filed an over-600-page chargesheet against him at the Andheri Metropolitan Court in Mumbai.
The police have uncovered information regarding Binoy’s alleged relationship with the woman, citing in their chargesheet that he had been sending her money every month from 2008 until 2015. According to the complaint, the women met him while she worked at a bar in Dubai. She filed the complaint in 2019 after learning that Binoy was already married. Another issue in consideration is the matter of whether the woman’s 8-year-old child is Binoy’s or not. The police have reported that the DNA test has not yet come back.
Meanwhile, Kodiyeri’s youngest son Bineesh has been languishing in Bengaluru jail ever since the Enforcement Directorate has been investigating him in regards to a drug case. The ED had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, turning the city upside down, looking into his Benami dealings, business partners, and even raiding the ‘Kodiyeri’ house. The family tried a few of their plays to attract public sympathy, also involving the Child Rights’ Commission. However, the ED was focused on the matter and they uncovered more evidence against Bineesh. The sequence of events had led the people to begin suspecting the family of protecting Bineesh, and thus it became difficult for the party to keep defending Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, believe some experts.
Moreover, with the latest information, the Narcotics Control Bureau had also set their eyes on Bineesh. The ED’s investigation pointed to the fact that Bineesh engaged in illegal transactions, had Benami dealings, and helped launder money. However, further enquiry and witness statements began to reveal that Bineesh might have had a part in the drug dealing as well.
While, the CPM central committee and the state members had been protective of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan amidst the issues, as the situation progressed it didn’t remain the same. With Binoy now in Mumbai facing rape charges, and Bineesh facing money laundering and drug charges, the Kodiyeri family isn’t exactly a model image that can be projected.
