CMRL-Exalogic payoff case: ED likely to oppose appeal by Pinarayi Vijayan against corruption FIR before HC Division Bench

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to oppose the appeal to be filed by former Keralam Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan before the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court against the registration of an FIR by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) against him in the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL)-Exalogic pay-off case.

A meeting of senior officials of the central agency that began in Kochi on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) is expected to chalk out the legal course of action in the wake of the decision by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to stay the police investigation based on the VACB’s FIR against Mr. Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law and former Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas in the case.

A Single Judge Bench of the Kerala High Court had directed the State Police to register the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against the three. This was on the basis of the information given by the ED to the Kerala Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Mr. Vijayan, his daughter and son-in-law were denied leave (permission) to appeal the Single Judge Bench order of October 9 by a Division Bench of the High Court on October 15, prompting them to approach the Supreme Court.

The ED had summoned Mr. Vijayan to appear for questioning at its office on Friday on Friday (October 23) in connection with the money-laundering case linked to the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off case. The central agency had earlier registered two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) under the PMLA against Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas in the pay-off case.

The ED is likely to wait till the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court delivers its verdict on the appeal filed by Mr. Vijayan against the FIR registered by the VACB under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 before pursuing further action.

With the former Chief Minister unlikely to turn up for Friday’s questioning citing the apex court’s stay on the probe into the FIR and the ongoing Assembly session, the agency may have to serve him a fresh notice summoning him for questioning.

The ED has taken note of the Supreme Court’s decision not to record any opinions on the validity of the ECIRs registered against Mr. Vijayan, his daughter and Mr. Riyas while observing that there is no hurdle in proceeding with its probe into the money laundering angle in the pay-off case. The agency has considered the possible legal challenges against the probe as the apex court has given Mr. Vijayan and his family members to challenge the ECIR before the appropriate forum in accordance with the law.