INDIAN Communists were arrested on Wednesday during protests against a government raid on the home of Kerala’s former chief minister.

Protesters gathered outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED’s) headquarters after the federal agency launched an unprecedented raid against Pinarayi Vijayan, who leads the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

ED officials searched 10 premises linked to the former chief minister, his daughter Veena Vijayan and son-in-law Mohammad Riyas, in connection with payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd, an Aluva-based listed company, to some individuals, covering allegedly fictitious expenses.

During the protest, Delhi Police detained demonstrators including CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, senior leader Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau members Ashok Dhawale, Mariam Dhawale and Vijoo Krishnan, central committee member Vikram Singh and Delhi State secretary Anurag Saxena.

More than 100 other protesters were also detained.

Speaking to thousands of demonstrators Mr Baby slammed the raid, which he said was carried out under the direction of the far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-controlled central government.

Blasting the raid as a “politically motivated vendetta” by the BJP, Mr Baby said “the blatant misuse of central agencies by the central government for political targeting cannot be accepted.”

He added that the intention of the CPI(M) was to “mobilise people and organise strong protests across the country against the selective targeting of opposition leaders and the attacks on democratic rights.

Senior BJP leader V Muraleedharan dismissed the CPI(M)’s reaction to the raid.

He said: “If your hands are clean, why panic?”

Critics say the government-sanctioned raid against Kerala’s former first minister is the latest example of the politicised use of legal pressure, often shorthanded as “lawfare,” to squash opposition. Similar methods have been used by Czech Republic, Jordan and Kenya in recent years.