NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed for one week the investigation into corruption-related FIRs against former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and her husband, P A Mohammed Riyas, in the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) bribery case.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana allowed the petitioners to approach a division bench of the Kerala High Court challenging a single judgeâs order that directed the registration of an FIR based on information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The High Court had ordered the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a case based on an ED report. The agency had sought action over alleged payments by CMRL to Veenaâs now-defunct IT company, Exalogic Solutions. The alleged payments of Rs 2.78 crore were purportedly made in the guise of IT consultancy services.
The Supreme Court clarified that its observations were limited to the petitionersâ right to appeal and did not amount to a ruling on the merits of the allegations. It also said the ED could continue exercising its statutory powers in money-laundering proceedings but should not encroach on the statutory domain of other agencies.
The interim stay gives the petitioners an opportunity to seek relief from the Kerala High Courtâs division bench. The allegations remain subject to legal proceedings.