Alappuzha (Kerala) | Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday said a special public prosecutor would be appointed in the case involving the alleged attack on ED officials by CPI(M) activists during a search linked to former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter, Veena T.

The decision follows a controversy over the grant of bail to one of the accused after the public prosecutor allegedly failed to oppose the bail plea before a district court.

Last month, an Enforcement Directorate team conducted a search at the rented house where Vijayan was staying in Thiruvananthapuram as part of a money laundering probe involving his daughter, Veena T.

While the ED officials and security personnel were returning after the raid, CPI(M) activists allegedly blocked their vehicles and damaged them.

A case was registered against around 300 people, and several CPI(M) activists were arrested.

The public prosecutor, T Geena Kumari, came under scrutiny after she allegedly failed to oppose the bail plea of the ninth accused, Harish Kumar, before the district court.

Police claimed they had submitted a report outlining 13 grounds for opposing the bail application.

The ED later moved the court, seeking to implead itself in the case, and also approached the Kerala High Court, challenging the bail granted to the accused.

Following these developments, the police lodged a complaint against the prosecutor with the state police chief, after which Director General of Prosecution, T Asaf Ali, sought a report from Kumari.

Responding to reporters, Chennithala described the attack on the ED officials as a serious case.

"We are considering removing the prosecutor who helped the accused secure bail. A special public prosecutor, recommended by the advocate general and the director general of prosecution, will be appointed in her place," he said.

Chennithala said the appointment would be made on Sunday itself and that the SPP would appear for the prosecution in the case.

He said the government had assumed office only a month ago and that the process of appointing new public prosecutors was yet to be completed.

"But in this case, we have decided to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor. The notification will be issued soon," he said.

Kumari was reportedly associated with the CPI(M)'s student wing, the Students' Federation of India, during her college days.