Kerala High Court Reserves Order on CMRL-Exalogic Pay-off Case Appeal; FIRs Stand Against Vijayan Family
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In a significant twist to the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off controversy, the Kerala High Court has reserved its order on an appeal seeking to overturn a single judge's directive to register FIR against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas. Critically, the Division Bench refused to grant an interim stay on the earlier order, meaning the two corruption cases registered against the high-profile family by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) remain active. This legal maneuver unfolds amidst allegations of illicit payments for services not rendered and suspicious hawala transactions, keeping the political spotlight firmly on the former Chief Minister. This development follows a Kerala High Court single judge's order on October 9, which directed the VACB to register the FIR after reviewing information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED probe into the financial dealings between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Veena's now-defunct firm, uncovered alleged payments of ₹3.28 crore for IT services that lacked documentation, along with accusations of an ₹85 lakh hawala transfer involving Riyas. These findings prompted the single judge to bypass the state's proposed preliminary inquiry, deeming the ED report sufficient for formal corruption and money laundering charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Now, all eyes are on the Division Bench upcoming verdict, which will determine the immediate legal fate of Vijayan and his family. With the FIR already registered and no interim stay in place, the formal investigation by the VACB is expected to proceed. The appeal, primarily arguing that the accused were not heard before the FIR directive, underscores a crucial legal battleground that could set precedents for future anti-corruption probes, ensuring this politically charged case remains a focal point in Kerala's legal and political landscape.