Pinarayi Vijayan CMRL-Exalogic Case: SC Stays Probe for 7 Days
Image: LiveLaw
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 21 October, stayed for seven days the investigation into the Vigilance FIR against former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic case. A bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana set aside a Kerala High Court Division Bench order that had refused them leave to appeal, so they can now challenge the single judge’s direction to register the case, LiveLaw and ANI reported.
FIR Stays, Investigation Pauses
The FIR registered by the Kerala Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is not quashed. Only the investigation is on hold for a week, which gives the petitioners time to file their appeals and ask the Division Bench for interim relief. The Supreme Court said that decision remains with the High Court and that its observations deal only with the petitioners’ right to be heard, not the merits. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said, according to The South First, that the ruling backs the government’s approach because the FIR was not quashed.
How the Case Reached Delhi
On 9 October, a single judge of the Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance bureau to register a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The direction followed information that the Enforcement Directorate passed to the state under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, in a petition filed by K.M. Shajahan. The Division Bench dismissed the leave-to-appeal petitions on 15 October. The ED alleges that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited paid Exalogic Solutions, a firm linked to Veena, for services it says were not provided. These are allegations; the accused have not been convicted of anything.
ANI reported that the bench questioned the haste of the single judge’s order, given that the state had already formed a special investigation team, and noted that Vijayan was not heard before it.
Division Bench Appeal Is Next
The petitioners must now file appeals before the Kerala High Court Division Bench within the seven-day window, which runs to about 28 October. It is not yet clear whether the stay will be extended. Related court coverage: Supreme Court orders wide publicity for the road accident relief scheme and more Daily Updates.
Source: Based on reporting by LiveLaw, ANI and The South First.
Image: LiveLaw.
