Kochi, October 9: The Kerala High Court on Friday ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under anti-corruption laws against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others in connection with the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case. The order follows a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the state police detailing allegations of financial irregularitieKerala High Court Orders FIR Against Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL Bribery Cases.
Justice A Badharudeen allowed a petition filed by advocate K M Shajahan, who argued that the police should register an FIR based on the ED’s findings instead of conducting a preliminary inquiry into the allegations. A detailed judgment from the court is awaited.
The case concerns allegations that CMRL made payments totalling ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company previously associated with Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T. According to the ED, the payments were allegedly made under the guise of IT consultancy services. The allegations are part of the agency’s investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED had informed the court that its report could be treated as a preliminary inquiry report and used as the basis for registering an FIR. The agency maintained that evidence gathered during its investigation, including material obtained through searches, warranted further criminal investigation.
The report also named Veena T and her husband, P A Mohamed Riyas, among those against whom the ED said a case could be registered. The allegations against the individuals have not been established in court, and the registration of an FIR does not amount to a finding of guilt.
The state government had opposed the ED’s position, arguing that the report did not provide sufficient grounds for immediately registering an FIR and that a preliminary inquiry was necessary before initiating a criminal investigation.
The legal development comes after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala recently ordered a police inquiry into the allegations following a communication from the ED to the state police chief. The inquiry was intended to examine the allegations involving Vijayan, his daughter and Riyas.
The dispute centres on whether the information provided by the central agency is sufficient to initiate a formal criminal investigation or whether the police must first conduct an independent preliminary assessment.
Advocate K M Shajahan’s petition sought the registration of an FIR rather than a preliminary inquiry, arguing that the material submitted by the ED warranted formal action. The High Court’s decision has now moved the matter towards a criminal investigation under the relevant anti-corruption provisions.
The CMRL case has attracted considerable political attention in Kerala because it involves allegations connected to the former chief minister and members of his family. The proceedings have also raised questions about the handling of reports submitted by central investigative agencies to state police authorities.
With the High Court directing the registration of an FIR, investigators are expected to proceed in accordance with the court’s order and the applicable legal provisions. Further details regarding the scope of the investigation and the specific charges will depend on the formal proceedings and evidence gathered by the authorities.
The detailed judgment is awaited and is expected to clarify the court’s reasoning behind its decision. The case remains at the investigation stage, and the allegations will have to be examined through the due process of law.
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