CMRL payoff case: Kerala HC orders registration of FIR against Pinarayi Vijayan, kin based on ED report

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The Kerala High Court on Friday (October 9, 2026) ordered registration of an FIR under the anti-graft law against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others based on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) report on the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) pay-off case.

Justice A. Badharudeen allowed a plea by advocate K.M. Shajahan, who contended that the police should register an FIR rather than conduct a preliminary inquiry on the allegations contained in the report of the ED.

The ED had claimed in court that an FIR could be registered against Mr. Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas based on the report it had submitted to the State police.

The ED had claimed that its report could be treated as a preliminary inquiry report and that an FIR could be registered based on it.

The contention had been opposed by the State government, which claimed that the report submitted by the agency was not sufficient to register an FIR and that a preliminary inquiry was required.

The Congress-led UDF government in Keralam recently ordered a police inquiry based on the ED’s letter to the State Police Chief seeking a probe against Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas.

The ED has sought registration of a case based on “evidence” gathered during its probe and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments of ₹2.78 crore to Ms. Veena’s now-defunct company Exalogic Solutions under the guise of “IT consultancy services.”

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