Pinarayi Vijayan moves Kerala HC to halt ED, Vigilance action in CMRL-Exalogic case

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has approached the Kerala High Court seeking to stall further proceedings against him in the CMRL-Exalogic monthly payment case. He has also moved to prevent the Enforcement Directorate from taking any fresh action while his appeal against the Vigilance probe is pending.

Vijayan has placed before the High Court the Supreme Court order that stayed the Vigilance investigation. His legal team is making arrangements to have the appeal listed before the Division Bench at the earliest, possibly on Saturday.

The petition, earlier filed against the order of a Single Bench, is expected to be given a new case number and placed before the Division Bench.

As part of the legal strategy, Vijayan may also file a separate writ petition seeking to restrain the ED from proceeding further until the appeal is decided. If the agency issues fresh summons or initiates other proceedings, the former Chief Minister, his son-in-law and CPI(M) leader Mohammed Riyas, and daughter T. Veena are likely to approach the High Court again.

Vijayan is unlikely to appear before the ED on Friday, according to reports. His legal team is preparing to engage senior advocates to argue the appeal, relying on certain observations in the Supreme Court order which, according to them, leave scope for a challenge before the High Court.

The Division Bench is expected to be urged to halt all further proceedings in the case, including the ED investigation, until a decision is taken on the appeal.

The ED, however, maintains that the Supreme Court order does not prevent it from continuing its probe. The agency’s position is that the apex court has not invalidated its communication of information under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against Vijayan.

The ED also maintains that the evidence in the case remains available and that the legal validity of the Enforcement Case Information Report has not been challenged.

The progress of the case was reviewed at the ED’s Kochi office on Thursday under the supervision of the Special Director. The agency is preparing to strongly oppose Vijayan’s appeal before the High Court.

The upcoming hearing is likely to decide whether the ED can continue its proceedings or whether further action in the case will be kept in abeyance until the High Court takes a decision on the appeal.

(Inputs from IANS)