Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved the Supreme Court on Friday, challenging a recent order from the Kerala High Court that directed the state authorities to register an First Information Report (FIR) in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case. The legal challenge follows a decision by a division bench of the Kerala High Court, which had dismissed appeals filed by the former Chief Minister and his family members against a single-judge order regarding the investigation.
Representing Vijayan, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra mentioned the petition before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. During the proceedings, Luthra sought an urgent listing of the matter, citing that an FIR has already been registered in connection with the case. Additionally, the counsel requested the court to grant Vijayan protection from any potential coercive legal action by investigating authorities.
Responding to the request for an urgent hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that the Supreme Court would re-open on October 26 following the conclusion of the Dussehra holidays. However, the Chief Justice indicated that he might consider constituting a bench during the break next week, provided that judges are available to hear the matter.
The current legal situation stems from an October 9 directive issued by a single judge of the Kerala High Court. The court had instructed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a formal case, acting upon a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the state police. The ED sought this action based on evidence gathered during its ongoing investigations and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The central allegation in the case involves payments totaling ₹2.78 crore, which the Enforcement Directorate claims were made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct firm owned by Vijayan's daughter, Veena T. The central agency has alleged that these payments were made under the guise of providing IT consultancy services, effectively characterizing them as fraudulent transactions.
Following the October 9 directive, Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and her husband, P.A. Mohamed Riyas, approached a division bench of the Kerala High Court to challenge the ruling. Their primary argument was that they were denied a fair opportunity to be heard by the single judge before the order to lodge the FIR was issued. However, the division bench rejected their applications, observing that an accused person in a corruption case does not possess a legal right to be heard at the stage of FIR registration.
As the matter now moves to the Supreme Court, the core of the legal contest remains centered on the procedural validity of the High Court’s initial directive. While the state's investigative machinery proceeds with the case as per the High Court's earlier instruction, the former Chief Minister’s legal team continues to push for a stay on the proceedings and protection from further investigative steps. The judicial outcome in the coming days remains contingent upon the potential scheduling of a special bench during the court's upcoming break.
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