Story perspectives

Supreme Court grants one-week stay on Vijayan case investigation

By Drooid · Oct 23, 2026, 10:03 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Vijayan Secures Stay

Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan secured a one-week Supreme Court stay on the CMRL-Exalogic investigation.
Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana granted the stay.
The stay suspends the investigation for seven days while the FIR remains active.
The FIR alleges CMRL paid Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions.
Vijayan’s lawyer said he will skip the ED’s October 23 questioning because of the stay.

Summary

High Court Orders FIR

High Court ordered FIR registration on October 9 after Enforcement Directorate shared with Kerala police on September 22.
Kerala government formed a nine-member Special Investigation Team to conduct a preliminary enquiry before the FIR.
Activist K.M. Shajahan filed a petition saying FIR lacked a hearing after an investigation team was formed.
Zoheb Hossain, Enforcement Directorate official, said Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) uncovered transfers to Veena T. and husband’s accounts.

History

Historical Context

The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament in 2002 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, broadened criminal breach of trust provisions. It authorized the Enforcement Directorate to levy fines up to Rs 5 lakh and imposed a maximum ten-year imprisonment for offenders. Today, Kerala’s Supreme Court stay on minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s CMRL-Exalogic probe echoes the Act’s legacy, enabling agencies like the ED and SFIO to seek relief. Consequently, future investigations may confront similar stays, prompting legislators to reconsider the Act’s safeguards and the balance between accountability and political immunity.

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Vijayan Secures Stay

Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan secured a one-week Supreme Court stay on the CMRL-Exalogic investigation.
Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana granted the stay.
The stay suspends the investigation for seven days while the FIR remains active.
The FIR alleges CMRL paid Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions.
Vijayan’s lawyer said he will skip the ED’s October 23 questioning because of the stay.

1 / 3