Kochi, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed a single judge’s order directing the registration of a Vigilance FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena, son-in-law and CPI-M MLA Mohammed Riyas, and others in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
A Division Bench comprising Justices K. M. Natarajan and Johnson John admitted appeals filed by the three and others challenging the October 9 order. It stayed the single judge’s judgment and directed that further investigation into the FIR remain suspended until further orders.
The court scheduled the final hearing for three weeks later.
The development follows the Supreme Court’s October 21 intervention, when it held that Vijayan and the others were entitled to challenge the single judge’s order before a Division Bench. The apex court also granted an interim stay on the investigation to enable the High Court to hear their appeals.
During Monday’s hearing, senior advocates representing the appellants argued that the single judge had ordered the registration of an FIR without hearing those directly affected by the decision.
They contended that the petitioner had bypassed the procedure available under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The defence also argued that the single judge had exceeded the court’s jurisdiction by directing the registration of an FIR, a decision they maintained should ordinarily be taken by the investigating agency.
The appellants questioned whether the material supplied by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) disclosed a cognisable offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
They further argued that the financial transactions involving Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Veena, did not, by themselves, establish criminal liability on the part of Vijayan or Riyas. They also raised objections concerning the statutory procedure for initiating a corruption investigation.
The state government informed the court that it had initially constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the material received from the ED.
The Advocate General said the government subsequently decided to register the FIR in view of the findings recorded by the single judge.
Opposing a stay on further investigation, the ED argued that an FIR must be registered when information discloses a cognisable offence. The counsel representing the original petitioner also defended the proceedings.
The case concerns alleged irregularities in financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions. The ED had shared material relating to these transactions with the state police.
On October 9, the single judge directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an FIR against Vijayan, Veena, Riyas and others. The order also set aside the state government’s decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry through the SIT.
The High Court’s latest order does not determine the merits of the allegations. The issues raised in the appeals will be examined during the final hearing.
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