The Keralam Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau registered two FIRs on October 12 in the CMRL–Exalogic case against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena Vijayan and others, following the Kerala High Court’s October 9 order. The move has put the V.D. Satheesan-led government under scrutiny over its earlier decision to order a preliminary inquiry instead of registering a case.
In the first FIR, Pinarayi Vijayan has been named the first accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The second FIR concerns hawala-related allegations, with P.A. Mohammed Riyas, Veena Vijayan’s husband and a CPM leader, named as the first accused.
However, Veena, Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, has been named an accused in both cases.
Reportedly, the FIRs will be submitted before the Vigilance Court in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Vigilance Director ordered the registration of the two FIRs based on the legal advice obtained. The cases concern financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Veena Vijayan’s company, Exalogic Solutions.
On October 9, Justice A. Badarudheen of the Kerala High Court directed the authorities to register FIRs based on documents submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court ruled that a preliminary inquiry was not necessary before registering the cases. The order came while hearing a petition filed by advocate K.M. Shajahan.
The ED had submitted a report to the State Police Chief on September 7, seeking the registration of a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena Vijayan and P.A. Mohammed Riyas in connection with the CMRL–Exalogic case.
However, instead of registering an FIR, the State Police Chief ordered a preliminary inquiry by the Crime Branch.
The BJP has accused the INDI Alliance of protecting Pinarayi Vijayan and his family. The registration of the FIRs following the court’s intervention is likely to intensify questions over why the state authorities initially opted for a preliminary inquiry despite the ED’s request to register a case.
The latest development also puts the spotlight on the V.D. Satheesan-led government’s response to the ED’s communication and its decision-making before the High Court’s intervention.
