Sunny Joseph defended the preliminary inquiry after the Supreme Court allowed fresh High Court appeals. He said the ruling would ease Congress criticism and urged leaders to use internal forums.
Image used for representational purposes only
Thiruvananthapuram,Oct 22, 2026 12:50 IST
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Thursday said criticism of the state government's initial decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry instead of registering an FIR against veteran CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the CMRL payments case would subside after the Supreme Court's recent ruling, the Press Trust of India reported.
Urging patience with the legal process, Joseph told reporters, "Justice hurried is justice buried." He said the Supreme Court ruling would help address criticism from within the Congress over the state government's decision.
Last month, the Enforcement Directorate wrote to the state police seeking the registration of a case against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas over alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited, or CMRL.
The state government initially decided to conduct a preliminary inquiry instead of registering an FIR. A private individual challenged the decision in the Kerala High Court, which ordered that a case be registered.
On October 15, a division bench of the Kerala High Court rejected applications by Vijayan, Veena and Riyas seeking permission to appeal against the October 9 order. It held that "an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before registering the FIR".
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana recently allowed Vijayan and the others to approach the High Court's division bench against the October 9 order.
Asked about criticism within the Congress over the government's initial decision to hold a preliminary inquiry rather than register an FIR, Joseph said the government and the KPCC had explained their position to the party's legislative group, according to PTI.
"Everyone will understand. There is no need to rush. Legal proceedings should be given their due time. The matter can be examined," he said, adding that the Supreme Court ruling would help address the criticism.
Joseph declined to comment on criticism by senior Congress leader and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran, describing the matter as a closed chapter.
"He is a senior leader and a Congress Working Committee member. I read in newspapers today that he has withdrawn the post," Joseph said, referring to a video message posted by Sudhakaran on Facebook and later deleted.
In the video, Sudhakaran had alleged that he was removed as KPCC president last year without justification. He had also said the government needed people willing to point out its mistakes.
Joseph said constructive criticism and suggestions from within the ruling front were welcome, but opposed public criticism of the government. "I discourage public criticism against the government. The disciplined way is to raise criticism within the party," he said.
Joseph maintained that the legal process should be allowed to proceed and said the Supreme Court ruling would address concerns over the government's handling of the CMRL payments case. He also urged party leaders to raise criticism through internal forums rather than in public.
- Ends