CMRL bribery case: Kerala High Court to hear Pinarayi Vijayan family’s appeals on October 26
The Kerala High Court has scheduled the next hearing of appeals filed by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members for October 26. The appeals challenge an earlier order directing the registration of a criminal case in connection with the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case.
The matter came before a Division Bench comprising Justices Sathish Ninan and P Krishna Kumar on Friday. The Bench decided to take up the appeals on Monday, despite submissions by Vijayan’s counsel concerning the limited duration of the Supreme Court’s stay on the vigilance investigation.
The controversy intensified after the Enforcement Directorate wrote to the Kerala police last month, requesting the registration of an FIR against Vijayan and members of his family. The agency’s request was based on material collected during its investigation into alleged payments involving CMRL, as well as searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The State police initially opted for a preliminary inquiry rather than registering a criminal case. On October 9, however, the High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case based on the ED’s report.
Two FIRs were subsequently registered, and the ED began separate proceedings under the PMLA against Vijayan and his family members.
Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law P A Muhammed Riyas, an MLA, later sought permission to challenge the single judge’s order. The High Court rejected their applications on October 15.
They then approached the Supreme Court, which stayed the VACB investigation for one week and directed them to pursue their challenge before a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court. The appeals are now scheduled to be considered on October 26.