Full Breakdown
Kerala High Court Orders FIR in CMRL-Exalogic Payoff Case
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Court Directive and Immediate Action
On October 9, 2026, a single bench of the Kerala High Court directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a First Information Report (FIR) under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) against Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena and his son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas. The order also required the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to forward all relevant documents to the VACB.
Background of the Allegations
The case concerns payments from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, a firm owned by Veena. An Income-Tax Interim Settlement Board ruled on June 12 2023 that Veena’s firm received monthly payments of INR1.72 crore from 2017-2019 without evidence of services. Simultaneous raids on May 27 at premises linked to Vijayan and Veena prompted the ED to recommend FIR registration under the PCA.
Financial Details
Investigators cite different totals for the alleged payments:
- INR1.72 crore per month (IT board).
- INR2.78 crore alleged fraudulent payments to Exalogic (ED).
- INR3.28 crore claimed as amount received by Vijayan through Veena (ED).
- INR182 crore alleged fraudulent payments by CMRL officials as sluice-handling charges (prosecution).
These figures reflect the tax, anti-corruption and corporate-fraud lenses of the inquiries.
Criticism & Opposition
The BJP has called for Vijayan’s resignation, saying the FIR proves corrupt conduct. CPI(M) leaders describe the HC order as a political targeting of Vijayan and pledge legal resistance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Amount totals differ across sources, and no unified figure has emerged.
- Service evidence: Both the IT board and the ED state that Exalogic did not provide documented services, yet contractual details with CMRL remain undisclosed.
- Legal status: The FIR is now mandated, but investigations by the SFIO, ED and VACB are ongoing, leaving key factual determinations open.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Vijayan has no right to remain as opposition leader in the Assembly.” — BJP MLA, former minister
What’s Next
The VACB is to file the FIR “forthwith” and begin a formal probe. The ED may file an Enforcement Case Information Report under the PMLA. Vijayan, Veena and Riyas have indicated intent to appeal the HC order, likely before a Division Bench.