Kerala AG Recommends FIR Against Pinarayi Vijayan in CMRL-Exalogic Case

The Advocate General of Kerala has advised the state government to register a First Information Report (FIR) against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and his son-in-law and former minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. The legal opinion, submitted to the state Home Department, follows a request from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to initiate a corruption case based on evidence gathered during its investigation into the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off controversy.

The Advocate General, K. Jaju Babu, concluded that the material and findings presented by the ED provide a sufficient basis to warrant a formal investigation under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The legal opinion suggests that the state government or the Vigilance Department can either register an FIR directly or conduct a preliminary inquiry. The report further notes that previous court rulings do not act as an absolute bar to registering a case, given the fresh information and evidence submitted by the federal agency. The state government is currently evaluating the legal advice to determine the next procedural step. The Home Department is expected to consult with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan before finalizing whether to initiate a formal investigation or pursue a preliminary inquiry. Decisions regarding further action are expected early next week.

The case centers on allegations that the Kochi-based firm Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) made fraudulent payments totaling approximately Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm owned by T. Veena, without the provision of actual services. The ED, which has been conducting a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, claims to have seized handwritten notes from Ms. Veena that detail transactions involving roughly Rs 20.05 crore in Indian currency, including an alleged transfer of Rs 85 lakh to Dubai.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala confirmed that the government received the Advocate General's legal opinion on Friday evening and that the Home Department is currently examining the document. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has characterized the ED's actions as a politically motivated attack targeting the party and its former Chief Minister. Senior CPI(M) leader A.K. Balan challenged the government to proceed with the FIR, asserting that the move would be a double-edged sword that could implicate other political figures, while also maintaining that previous complaints regarding the matter had already been dismissed by various courts.