Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that his administration will obey the Kerala High Court directive to file an initial police report against former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and members of his family regarding the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited bribery controversy. He additionally confirmed that the state will not challenge the judicial ruling.
Speaking to reporters following a cabinet session, Satheesan explained that the administration proceeded only after obtaining formal legal counsel, avoiding any perception of rushed actions or personal malice. Because the matter implicated a former state leader and his relatives, the administration initially initiated a preliminary fact-finding inquiry.
Satheesan noted that upon receiving communication from the Enforcement Directorate to launch a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and her spouse P A Mohamed Riyas, authorities did not rush or act out of spite. He added that the legal advice pointed to a Supreme Court precedent allowing preliminary checks in corruption matters, which prompted the initial inquiry.
With the judiciary now instructing that an official case be registered, the administration will follow the mandate and permit legal procedures to proceed naturally, according to Satheesan. Addressing whether the probe would extend to opposition leaders allegedly listed in diary entries, he pointed out that the High Court judgment specified that investigations cannot be initiated solely based on isolated diary notes.
The administration had previously established a Special Investigation Team to review allegations highlighted in the federal enforcement report. However, the High Court ruled that setting up the investigative team without first filing a formal complaint document was unlawful. Justice A Badharudeen instructed the head of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau in Thiruvananthapuram to immediately record an FIR using details supplied by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act regarding suspected violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The judicial panel determined that the material provided by the enforcement agency contained adequate primary evidence indicating cognizable offenses involving Vijayan, Veena, and Riyas. The Enforcement Directorate previously alleged that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited funneled approximately Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's inactive enterprise, Exalogic Solutions, under the pretense of providing information technology consulting services.