Keralam Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan
Keralam Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan filed an appeal before the Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 22, 2026), challenging a Single Judge order that had earlier this month directed the registration of an FIR against him, daughter T. Veena and son-in-law P.A. Mohamed Riyas in the CMRL-Exalogic pay-off case.
The court is likely to consider the plea on Saturday (October 24, 2026).
Following SC stay
Mr. Vijayan has approached the High Court, a day after the Supreme Court stayed for seven days a Kerala Police investigation into a First Information Report (FIR) registered against him and his kin in the ₹2.78-crore pay-off case.
A Single Bench of the Kerala High Court had directed the Kerala Police to register the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, against the three of them. This followed information given by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to the Kerala Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 regarding the alleged pay off. They approached the Supreme Court after a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court denied them leave (permission) to appeal against the Single Judge order of October 9, 2026. The Division Bench had further held that its order has not affected their right to pursue their constitutional or statutory remedies against the registration of the FIR. The lawyers representing Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas had argued before the High Court Division Bench that they had not been given an opportunity to be heard, even though the Single Judge’s order directly affected them.
Published – October 22, 2026 05:27 pm IST
