Vigilance to Register FIR Against Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter and Son-in-Law on October 12: Chennithala

Chennithala said the state government would proceed with legal action under the Kerala High Court’s order and that there was no need to challenge the ruling.

On Friday, the High Court directed the Vigilance Bureau to register a case and investigate the allegations under the Prevention of Corruption Act, taking into account evidence submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court also quashed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) the Crime Branch had constituted to conduct a preliminary inquiry.

The court ordered that all documents and digital evidence submitted by the ED to Director General of Police Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar, along with the material collected by the SIT, be transferred to the Vigilance Bureau without delay.

The case centres on the ED’s allegation that Cochin-based company CMRL paid Rs 3.28 crore to Veena’s company, Exalogic, between 2017 and 2019 without receiving services in return.

The Vigilance Bureau will have to conduct its own investigation and examine the available evidence to determine whether the payments constituted bribery or involved any other offence. The registration of an FIR does not establish the guilt of those named, and the allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings.

Vijayan and the other individuals concerned are expected to challenge the single judge’s order before a Division Bench of the High Court. They could seek a stay on the investigation or request that the order be set aside.

The ED may also pursue separate proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

The developments are expected to intensify the political and legal debate surrounding the long-running monthly payment controversy.

The Kerala Assembly is also set to begin a nine-day session on Monday, with the issue likely to feature in proceedings as the ruling government led by V.D. Satheesan faces scrutiny from the Opposition.