The Keralam High Court has directed the state government, on October 9, to register an FIR in the CMRL–Exalogic case without waiting for a preliminary inquiry, dealing a heavy blow to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas, and the V.D. Satheesan-led government. The order is a setback to the CM Satheesan government, which had taken the stand that the case should be registered only after a preliminary inquiry.
The Court’s order is a clear indication that the allegations against the Pinarayi Parivar warrant examination through the legal process. It strengthens the demand for registering an FIR on the basis of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recommendation, without delaying the process in the name of a preliminary inquiry.
The crucial order was issued by Justice A. Badarudheen after hearing the petition filed by Adv. K.M. Shajahan. The order comes in the wake of criticism of the government’s hesitation to register the case.
The ED had submitted a report to the State Police Chief, asking for a case to be registered against Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and her husband and former CPM minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas in connection with the CMRL–Exalogic scam under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This was on September 7, 2026. However, the State Police Chief ordered a preliminary inquiry by the Crime Branch without registering an FIR, owing to the soft approach of the CM Satheesan government towards the CPM veteran and his family. The petitioner had questioned this order.
However, the UDF government, led by Congress leader and CM V.D. Satheesan, argued before the Court that Shajahan’s petition would not hold up. The government’s counsel argued that an FIR should be registered only after the preliminary inquiry. The counsel said that there were Supreme Court orders in this respect.
However, the Court maintained that there was no need for a preliminary inquiry. This order provides legal support to the argument for registering an FIR directly.
The ED supported the petitioner’s argument. The ED argued that its report was based on Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Therefore, an FIR should essentially be registered in the wake of various Supreme Court verdicts.
In view of the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the FIR should not be delayed in the name of a preliminary inquiry. The High Court accepted these arguments.
Numerous allegations have been raised against the UDF government over its hesitation to take proper action on the basis of the ED report. There were many apprehensions regarding the prospects of an impartial and transparent inquiry, as the names of political leaders mentioned in the allegations and the stand of the Keralam Home Department became a talking point across the state. Now, the need of the hour is to ensure that the legal inquiry is carried out instead of political allegations and arguments.
Now, the CM Satheesan government should answer questions regarding its hesitation to register the FIR when the allegations emerged. It must answer why it opted for a preliminary inquiry instead of registering an FIR. The ED’s 26-page letter to the State Police Chief contained all the necessary details and evidence regarding the case. It also mentioned details obtained from Veena’s diary.
By delaying it, the CM Satheesan government appears to have been trying to protect the former CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s family. V.D. Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala went back on the words they had spoken when they were the Leader of the Opposition and a senior Opposition MLA, respectively, while Pinarayi was the Chief Minister. This is clear evidence of INDI Alliance designs.
The BJP has been pointing out that the INDI Alliance was protecting Pinarayi and his family. The High Court order has strengthened the BJP’s argument.
As soon as news of the High Court order emerged, BJP leaders ridiculed the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government and demanded the resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan as the Leader of the Opposition. BJP national executive member P.K. Krishnadas told the media that the party would carry out an Assembly march demanding Pinarayi’s resignation.
BJP vice-president Adv. Shon George said that Pinarayi had no moral right to continue as the Leader of the Opposition in the wake of the FIR that the state government is bound to register soon in the light of the High Court order.
Former Union Minister and MLA V. Muraleedharan also demanded the immediate resignation of Pinarayi Vijayan from the position of the Leader of the Opposition.
