Kerala High Court directs FIR in CMRL-Exalogic matter

The Kerala High Court has directed the state police to register a first information report against Pinarayi Vijayan and others in the CMRL-Exalogic matter, where the Enforcement Directorate has alleged that payments may have been part of a bribery arrangement. The direction followed a petition by advocate K M Shajahan challenging the state’s decision to begin with a preliminary inquiry. The court’s detailed judgment is awaited. The order, issued by Justice A Badharudeen on October 9, also names Vijayan’s daughter, Veena T, and her husband, P A Mohamed Riyas. The matter concerns transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited, or CMRL, and Exalogic Solutions, a company associated with Veena. The Enforcement Directorate told the court that information it had shared with state police warranted an FIR and investigation. The agency alleged that CMRL paid Exalogic for services that were not provided, and said the transactions could indicate a corruption offence. Its allegations draw on material gathered during an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.