The Daily PulseGeneral
Pinarayi Vijayan asks Supreme Court to set aside Kerala High Court order on FIR
Reported by Kunal Bhatia (Senior Writer) · Hindustan Times - India ·
Reported by one source so far
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsFormer Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has moved the Supreme Court to challenge a Kerala High Court order that directed the registration of a criminal case against him. Vijayan stated in his petition that the order was passed without hearing him and without any material linking him to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic payoff case. His petition is scheduled to be heard by a vacation bench of justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
Case Details and Summons
The 81-year-old leader fears arrest on mere suspicion, according to senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who mentioned the matter before Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Vijayan for October 23 in connection with a money laundering probe based on similar allegations. Following the high court order, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau booked Vijayan, his daughter Veena, and his son-in-law and CPI(M) MLA PA Mohammed Riyas under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Previous Litigation
CMRL allegedly paid ₹2.72 crore to Exalogic Solutions, where Vijayan's daughter served as a director, without providing any services between 2017 and 2020. Vijayan noted that similar allegations were raised in earlier legal rounds that ended in dismissal up to the Supreme Court in October 2025. He maintained that no demand, acceptance, official act, or money trail has been alleged against him, and that the high court petition filed by lawyer KM Shajahan was motivated by political vendetta.
Context
High-profile political corruption cases in India often involve protracted legal battles across multiple court levels, touching upon procedural rules regarding how FIRs are ordered. The Supreme Court frequently reviews high court directions when petitioners claim they were denied a fair hearing before an investigation began.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to the Supreme Court against a Kerala High Court directive ordering a criminal case against him over alleged illegal payments involving a state-run firm and his daughter's company, arguing he was never heard during the proceedings.
Why It Matters
The case raises critical legal questions about procedural fairness, specifically whether a court can direct the police to register an FIR against a high-profile individual without giving them an opportunity to be heard. It also intersects with active probes by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, carrying significant political and legal ramifications for senior state leadership.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court vacation bench is set to hear the petition. The outcome will determine whether the FIR registered by the state anti-corruption bureau will stand, and it may influence how similar criminal investigations involving political figures are initiated by courts in the future.
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