Kochi: The Kerala government is set to direct the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register a formal First Information Report on Monday in connection with the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited bribery case involving opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan and his family members. The impending legal step follows a recent Kerala High Court directive instructing the state to initiate a case based on an Enforcement Directorate report submitted to local law enforcement.
The High Court ruled on Friday that a preliminary inquiry was unnecessary, thereby paving the way for immediate legal proceedings. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that CMRL made suspicious transactions involving Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and his son-in-law P A Muhammad Riyas, who is an MLA. The federal agency requested a formal case registration drawing on evidence gathered during its investigation and searches conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Addressing reporters, political figures noted that the administration would move forward in direct compliance with the judicial ruling. Although the state had initially pursued a preliminary inquiry based on legal counsel, officials accepted the court's determination that such a step was redundant. Federal investigators have claimed that CMRL made fraudulent payments amounting to Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's former firm, Exalogic Solutions, ostensibly for information technology consultancy services.
Responding to assertions that the legal challenge lacked merit, authorities emphasized that the High Court order definitively established the gravity of the matter, confirming that the state would not file an appeal against the verdict. Alongside these developments, political commentary also addressed broader electoral roll revisions and past administrative governance, while stressing ongoing national political campaigns and parliamentary accountability.