Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 22, 2026 — Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president and Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said that criticism directed at the state government's initial decision to conduct a preliminary inquiry rather than directly registering an FIR against senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan and his family in the CMRL payments case would diminish following a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Urging patience regarding ongoing judicial proceedings, Joseph told reporters that rushing justice serves no purpose and expressed confidence that the apex court's decision would alleviate internal friction within the Congress party regarding the initial inquiry approach. Last month, the Enforcement Directorate requested state police to register a case against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas over alleged financial transactions involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited.
The state government had originally opted for a preliminary inquiry instead of immediately filing an FIR, a choice challenged by a private petitioner in the Kerala High Court. The High Court subsequently mandated the registration of a case, and a division bench later dismissed applications from Vijayan, Veena, and Riyas seeking to appeal that order, ruling that an accused party in a corruption case lacks the legal right to a hearing prior to an FIR being filed.
However, a Supreme Court bench subsequently permitted Vijayan and the other petitioners to approach the High Court's division bench concerning the earlier order. Addressing questions regarding internal party criticism over the government's procedural choices, Joseph noted that both the government and the KPCC had clarified their stances to the party's legislative representatives and asked members to allow the legal system adequate time.
Declining to comment directly on remarks made by senior Congress leader and Kannur MP K Sudhakaran, Joseph characterized that particular issue as resolved, noting that Sudhakaran had since withdrawn a related social media video message. While welcoming constructive feedback and suggestions from within the ruling coalition, Joseph firmly opposed public denunciations of the administration, advising members to channel their concerns through disciplined internal party mechanisms.