Newdelhi,Oct 21, 2026 13:12 ISTThe Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily halted the investigation concerning former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and her husband P A Mohamed Riyas in connection with the CMRL bribery allegations, according to the Press Trust of India. A bench comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana granted the group permission to take their challenge to a division bench of the Kerala High Court following a previous ruling by a single judge.

Earlier on October 15, the Kerala High Court dismissed petitions filed by Vijayan, Veena, and Riyas that sought leave to appeal a directive issued by a single judge on October 9. The high court maintained that individuals accused in corruption matters do not possess a statutory entitlement to be heard prior to the formal registration of an FIR.

In their legal challenges presented to the high court, the trio contended that the single judge issued instructions to record the FIR without providing them an opportunity to present their side. They further maintained that the underlying petition leading to the October 9 order functioned as a public interest litigation and ought to have been reviewed by a dedicated division bench.

These appellate actions followed the initiation of two separate FIRs by the Special Investigation Unit-1 of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau against Vijayan and his relatives. The state police bureau had been instructed to launch the case on October 9 based upon findings and a formal report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate.

The federal financial investigation agency urged authorities to register a case after uncovering material during searches and inquiries conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Investigators claim that Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Limited channeled illegal payments totaling Rs 2.78 crore to Veena's former enterprise, Exalogic Solutions, under the pretense of delivering software and technology consultancy services.

With the latest directive from the apex court, the ongoing inquiry remains frozen for seven days, offering the petitioners a designated window to contest the single-judge ruling before a division bench of the state high court.