CMRL-Exalogic case: In an update from oral pronouncement, Supreme Court specifies freeze period as 10 days in published order

In an update from its oral pronouncement, the Supreme Court has directed the investigation into the First Information Reports (FIRs) against former Keralam Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case to be extended to 10 days.

The oral pronouncement in open court on October 21 had specifically dictated the time of stay as a week or seven days. However, the subsequent published order mentions the period of the stay as 10 days.

“We direct that the investigation in the impugned FIRs shall remain stayed for a period of ten days from today, which, however, shall not be treated as a conclusive opinion expressed on interim relief, and the Division Bench [of the Kerala High Court] shall be entitled to fashion independently such relief in accordance with law,” the order read.

Allowing Mr. Vijayan and his co-petitioners in the Supreme Court to pursue their appeal against a Single Judge Bench order of October 9, 2026, directing the registration of FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the apex court noted that its observations were limited to the “locus of the appellants to prefer the appeal, and not an expression of opinion on merits”.

On Wednesday, a Special Bench of the apex court comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana convened in the middle of Dussehra vacations to hear 82-year-old Mr. Vijayan, who voiced fears of imminent arrest, and his two family members.

Mr. Vijayan and the other two co-petitioners, represented variously by senior advocates Siddharth Luthra, N. Hariharan and Krishna Dev Jagarlamudi, had submitted they were neither made parties nor heard by the Single Judge Bench before the registration of the FIR was ordered on October 9.

Setting aside the October 15 order of the Kerala High Court Division Bench refusing them leave to appeal the October 9 order, the apex court had directed the Division Bench to hear the appeals filed by Mr. Vijayan and the other two petitioners against the registration of the corruption FIR. Justice Bagchi reminded the State that no matter how low or high a person was, he was subject to the rule of law and principles of natural justice.

“We will not disturb the FIR, but we will stall the investigation… Further, we are sending this case back to the High Court for adjudication,” Justice Bagchi observed.