Politics · India · 5 hrs ago
Supreme Court pauses Kerala probe into Pinarayi Vijayan for a week
The Supreme Court paused Kerala Police’s investigation for a week into former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his relatives.
The case concerns alleged payments from CMRL to Exalogic between 2017 and 2020.
Vijayan says he had no dealings with CMRL and was never a shareholder, director or employee of Exalogic.
The Supreme Court said the High Court’s division bench should have allowed the family to appeal a single judge’s order directing an FIR and investigation.
It said the case’s merits remain undecided and did not rule on the validity of a related Enforcement Directorate case record.
The Court said investigating public servants may require compliance with additional legal requirements.
Vijayan and his relatives can pursue their appeals before the High Court’s division bench, while the investigation remains paused for seven days.
The Supreme Court stayed Kerala Police’s investigation into former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his relatives for seven days.
The pause gives them time to pursue appeals before a Kerala High Court division bench against an order directing an FIR and investigation.
The Supreme Court said its observations did not address the merits of the allegations.
The case concerns alleged payments from CMRL to Exalogic, a company associated with Vijayan’s daughter.
The court also said it was expressing no opinion on the validity of an Enforcement Directorate case based on the police FIR.
- Who
- Former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law Mohd Riyas PA.
- What
- The Supreme Court paused Kerala Police’s investigation for seven days and allowed the appellants to pursue appeals in the High Court.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi; the investigation and appeals concern Kerala.
- Why
- To allow the appellants to pursue appeals against the High Court single judge’s order directing an FIR and investigation.
Pinarayi Vijayan and relatives
Kerala government
Investigation
Pinarayi Vijayan and relatives
They appealed against the order directing an FIR and probe.
Kerala government
The government had set up a special investigation team for a preliminary inquiry and sought to proceed with the investigation.
Court proceedings
Pinarayi Vijayan and relatives
They argued that statutory requirements applied and challenged the order.
Kerala government
The government undertook not to proceed with the probe until the High Court division bench decided the appeals.
The Enforcement Directorate shared information about the alleged payoff case with Kerala Police.
A Kerala High Court single judge set aside the preliminary inquiry and directed that an FIR be filed.
The FIR was lodged.
The Supreme Court stayed the investigation for seven days and allowed the appellants to pursue appeals before a High Court division bench.
- Stay
- Seven days
- Appellants
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Veena T and Mohd Riyas PA
- Alleged payments
- CMRL to Exalogic, between 2017 and 2020
- FIR
- Lodged on Oct 12
- High Court order
- Oct 9; directed an FIR and investigation
What people are saying
The investigation into FIR shall remain stayed for seven days,
Your client was so eager to investigate. We do not appreciate the state govt functioning like this.