Published Oct 26, 2026 | 6:15 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 26, 2026 | 6:15 PM
An embattled trio: Veena, Pinarayi and Riyas. (File Photo)
The Kerala High Court on Monday stayed the FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law Muhammed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic case.
The Division Bench of Justices K Natarajan and Johnson John also suspended further investigation and the Single Bench judgment that had directed the Vigilance to register the case. The appeals will come up for final hearing after three weeks.
Earlier, the Advocate General told the court that the state had decided to comply with the Single Bench order and register the FIR, despite reservations about its decision to quash the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT). He said the government had initially formed the SIT to conduct a preliminary inquiry but chose to respect the court’s findings based on materials examined in the case.
Appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, the Additional Solicitor General argued that an FIR was mandatory when information disclosed a cognisable offence. He also contended that the Companies Act provision granting the Serious Fraud Investigation Office jurisdiction did not bar proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he had faith in the law, while welcoming the Kerala High Court Division Bench order in the case involving allegations against him, his daughter and son-in-law PA Mohamed Riyas.
“I have faith in the law. The Division Bench order upholds that. The law will take its own course,” Vijayan said.
However, he declined to directly respond to whether the case and subsequent developments were part of a political vendetta, saying he would respond to such aspects later.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan, meanwhile, alleged that the “Modi-ED-VD conspiracy” targeting the party and Vijayan had been exposed. He said the party welcomed the Division Bench order, which, according to him, vindicated the CPI(M)’s stand that the allegations and the case were part of a political conspiracy.
Govindan maintained that the case was not merely about Veena but was aimed at Vijayan and Riyas.
He said the court order reinforced the party’s position that the case was politically motivated.
The ED had alleged that Pinarayi Vijayan, currently the Leader of the Opposition, received ₹3.28 crore as a bribe from CMRL, allegedly routed through his daughter T Veena.
The agency has based the allegation, among other things, on the purported admission of P Suresh Kumar, former CFO/CGM of CMRL.
According to the ED, former minister and MLA PA Mohammed Riyas allegedly received bribe funds and facilitated their transfer to Dubai through Veena and other known associates. The agency has further alleged that Veena assisted in the collection and routing of funds allegedly meant for Vijayan and Riyas.
Her company, Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, has been described by the ED as a corporate vehicle allegedly used to route sham payments. The allegations form part of the ED’s CMRL-linked money-laundering investigation.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
