In a significant judicial intervention, the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed for seven days the ongoing investigation against former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law PA Mohamed Riyas in the high-profile CMRL-Exalogic payoff case.
A special bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana passed the order during the Dussehra break, granting the petitioners leave to appeal before the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court.
During the hearing, the apex court reprimanded the Enforcement Directorate (ED), directing the central agency to adhere strictly to its statutory limits rather than exceeding its powers. “Don’t use your power to meddle with the statutory powers of other investigation agencies,” the bench observed while noting that state authorities hold their own independent duties. The court clarified that while the FIR registered by the state remains intact, further investigation is paused for one week to allow the petitioners to seek appropriate interim relief before the High Court division bench.
The case revolves around allegations that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) made payments totaling over ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a firm formerly owned by Vijayan’s daughter, without receiving actual services in return. The petitioners contended that the Kerala High Court’s initial order directing the registration of an FIR was passed without granting them a hearing, pointing to procedural safeguards under Section 175(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
