The Supreme Court, in a 3‑judge bench, granted former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son‑in‑law PA Mohammed Riyas a seven‑day stay on the investigation into alleged ₹2.78 crore payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions. The FIR against the trio remains active, and the Kerala High Court has been instructed to rehear the case.
The controversy began when the Enforcement Directorate, acting under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, sent information to the Kerala Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau, which registered an FIR on October 9. The allegations claim CMRL paid the IT firm—once owned by Veena—without receiving corresponding services. The ED has summoned Vijayan for questioning on October 23.
During the hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana questioned why the petitioners were not heard before the FIR was registered, emphasizing the right to a pre‑FIR hearing. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the former chief minister, stressed his age and the potential for coercive action, urging the court to consider the impact on a senior public figure.
The petitioners had earlier sought to overturn the High Court’s order to register the FIR, but that appeal was dismissed, prompting them to seek Supreme Court relief. The interim order does not resolve the merits of the case but pauses the investigation for a week.
Moving forward, the High Court will rehear the matter, and the ED will continue its probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Both parties are preparing for the forthcoming hearing, while the legal process remains under close scrutiny.