Former Kerala CM Vijayan files Supreme Court petition to challenge FIR order in CMRL bribery probe

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan petitioned the Supreme Court on Friday to overturn a Kerala High Court order that directed the registration of an FIR in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited bribery case. Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Vijayan, asked for urgent listing before a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, noting that an FIR has already been registered and seeking protection from any coercive action. The chief justice said the matter will be heard when the apex court reconvenes on October 26 after the Dussehra break and may constitute a bench during the holidays if judges are available. On October 15, the Kerala High Court dismissed the pleas of Vijayan, his daughter Veena T. and her husband P. A. Mohamed Riyas to appeal the single‑judge October 9 direction to lodge the FIR. A division bench ruled that an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before an FIR is filed, thus rejecting the applications and dismissing the appeals. The October 9 order had directed the Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption Bureau to register a case based on a report from the Enforcement Directorate, which cited evidence gathered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED alleged that CMRL paid fraudulent ₹2.78 crore to Veena’s now‑defunct firm Exalogic Solutions, claiming it was for IT consultancy services. ## Context The Supreme Court’s review will test whether a suspect can challenge an FIR before it is filed, a question that could shape future anti‑corruption investigations across India. The case also highlights how the Enforcement Directorate’s money‑laundering findings can trigger criminal probes across the country.