CMRL-Exalogic case: Vigilance to name Pinarayi Vijayan, Riyas as first accused in separate FIRs

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is set to register two separate FIRs in the CMRL-Exalogic controversy at the Vigilance Court here on Monday, with former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M) legislator P.A. Mohammed Riyas named as first accused in the two cases.

While Vijayan will be the first accused in the case relating to monthly payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to Exalogic Solutions, Riyas will face the same designation in a separate case concerning alleged corruption money received by him. Riyas, a former tourism minister in the second LDF government, is the husband of T. Veena, Vijayan’s daughter.

Veena, who owns Exalogic Solutions, has been named the second accused in both FIRs. The cases will separately examine the allegations against the accused, the payments received and the alleged favours extended in return.

The Vigilance move follows a direction from a single bench of the Kerala High Court to register cases and conduct a full investigation into the alleged transactions between CMRL and Exalogic. The court had asked the agency to act on the Enforcement Directorate’s report rather than conduct a preliminary inquiry.

The High Court had also set aside the police chief’s order constituting a special investigation team without the government’s approval. The government is now expected to issue a fresh order appointing a special team on the recommendation of the Vigilance Director, in line with the court’s observations on the authority to constitute such a team.

Documents related to the case, held by the Crime Branch, have been handed over to the Vigilance. The agency maintains that prior sanction is not required to proceed with the investigation, citing the High Court’s specific direction.

The development marks a major escalation in the politically sensitive case, which has been under the scrutiny of Central agencies and has fuelled a prolonged political confrontation in Kerala. The investigation will now have to establish whether the payments made to Exalogic were linked to undue official favours.

Meanwhile, sources said Vijayan is likely to move the High Court’s division bench later on Monday, challenging the single bench order. His petition could trigger a fresh legal battle over the scope and procedure of the Vigilance investigation.

(Inputs from IANS)