Full Breakdown
Legal Battle Over First Information Report (FIR) Registration in Kerala’s Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) Bribery Case
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 15 2026 the Kerala High Court dismissed applications by former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law P. A. Mohammed Riyas seeking leave to appeal a single-judge order dated October 9 that directed the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to register a first-information report (FIR) in the CMRL-Exalogic bribery case. The next day Vijayan moved the Supreme Court, which scheduled a hearing after the court re-opens on October 26 following the Dussehra break.
Background & Context
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a report under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act alleging that CMRL made fraudulent payments to Veena’s firm Exalogic Solutions. The report cited witness statements, diary entries and chat logs, claiming cognisable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On the basis of this report the single-judge bench ordered the VACB to register FIRs on October 9. Two FIRs were filed on October 12, naming Vijayan, Veena and Riyas as accused—one under the Prevention of Corruption Act and another involving alleged hawala transfers.
Timeline
- Oct 9, 2026 – Single-judge order directing FIR registration.
- Oct 12, 2026 – VACB registers two FIRs.
- Oct 13-14, 2026 – Division bench reserves decisions on leave-to-appeal applications.
- Oct 15, 2026 – High Court dismisses the applications.
- Oct 16, 2026 – Vijayan petitions the Supreme Court; senior advocate Sidharth Luthra seeks urgent listing.
- Oct 26, 2026 (scheduled) – Supreme Court to consider the matter.
Data & Statistics
- Alleged payments to Exalogic: reported amounts range from INR2.78 crore to INR3.28 crore.
- Payments from March 3 2017 to November 1 2017: roughly INR50 lakh to Veena without invoices, per the FIR.
- Two FIRs: filed on October 12 covering corruption and money-laundering/hawala allegations.
- Vijayan’s age: 82 years at the time of the Supreme Court petition.
Official Statements & Responses
- Supreme Court: Chief Justice Surya Kant said the matter would be heard after the court re-opens on October 26, subject to judges’ availability.
- Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan: asserted the state acted on legal advice and did not rush the preliminary enquiry before the FIR.
- Advocate General Jaju Babu: noted that FIR registration requires a prima facie cognizable offence and that a preliminary enquiry is permissible when doubts exist.
Criticism & Opposition
- CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan (ANI) accused the United Democratic Front of collaborating with the ED to launch a “planned and deliberate” political attack on Vijayan, Riyas and the CPI(M).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Amount of alleged payments: sources cite INR2.78 crore, INR3.28 crore and INR3.26 crore.
- Nature of transactions: the FIR calls them “sham transactions” with no services rendered, while the ED frames them as money-laundering evidence.
- Legal standing: the High Court ruled the appellants were not parties to the original writ petition, though they argue the single-judge order foreclosed their right to challenge the FIR.
What’s Next
The Supreme Court will hear Vijayan’s petition after October 26. The parties may also file criminal-miscellaneous petitions before a single judge of the Kerala High Court to contest the FIRs’ registration. The outcome will decide whether the FIRs remain in force and how the alleged CMRL-Exalogic payments are investigated.