CMRL Case: Pinarayi Vijayan Seeks SC Relief Against Kerala HC's FIR Order

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order directing the registration of an FIR in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case. He has also sought protection from coercive action.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Vijayan, mentioned the plea before a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, seeking an urgent hearing. He informed the court that an FIR had already been registered in the case.

The Chief Justice said the matter would be heard when the Supreme Court reopens on October 26, after the Dussehra break. However, he indicated that a bench could be constituted during the court holidays next week, subject to the availability of judges.

Vijayan's move comes a day after the Kerala High Court dismissed applications filed by him, his daughter Veena T, and her husband P A Mohamed Riyas seeking permission to appeal against a single-judge order directing the registration of an FIR.

On October 9, the High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a case based on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to the state police. The ED had sought the registration of a case based on evidence gathered during its investigation and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency has alleged that CMRL made fraudulent payments amounting to Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's now-defunct company, Exalogic Solutions, under the guise of information technology consultancy services.

Vijayan, Veena and Riyas had argued before the High Court's division bench that the single judge should have heard them before ordering the FIR.

Rejecting their applications, the division bench held that an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before the registration of an FIR. Consequently, their appeals were also dismissed.