Kerala HC Adjourns Pinarayi Vijayan Appeal in Exalogic Payment Case

Kochi, October 23: The Kerala High Court on Friday did not hear the appeal filed by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas against an FIR in the CMRL-Exalogic corruption case. The matter has been adjourned and listed for hearing on Monday.

Legal observers say Monday's proceedings will be important in deciding how the challenge against the High Court's FIR order moves forward.

The Supreme Court earlier this week directed the petitioners to approach the same division bench of the Kerala High Court that had upheld the single judge's decision to register the FIR. Vijayan and others had earlier moved the apex court after the division bench's ruling last week.

The division bench, comprising Justice K. Natarajan and Justice Johnson John, had confirmed the single judge's order directing an FIR over alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, a company run by Veena that has since shut down.

The bench also dismissed the plea seeking permission to appeal the single judge's order. In its verdict, it held that an accused in a corruption case has no legal right to be heard before an FIR is registered.

The court also noted that the decision does not take away the right of the applicants to seek constitutional or legal remedies against the FIR.

The case pertains to the period when Pinarayi Vijayan served as Chief Minister. The payments came under the scanner after allegations that they were made despite no services having been rendered.