- The High Court ordered the Vigilance bureau to register an FIR "forthwith" against Vijayan, Veena and Riyas.
- It quashed the government's preliminary inquiry, saying ED's material already disclosed offences.
- The state's Advocate General had argued that diary entries in the case have no evidentiary value.
On 9 October 2026, Justice A. Badharudeen of the Kerala High Court directed the state Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to register an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Pinarayi Vijayan, T. Veena and former minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. The court set aside the government's preliminary inquiry as illegal on the facts of the case. It held that when ED shares information under Section 66(2) of the PMLA that discloses an offence, the state police must register an FIR. The petition was filed by activist K.M. Shajahan.
Claim by claim
When ED forwards information under Section 66(2) of the PMLA disclosing an offence, the state police are obliged to register an FIR.
Said by Justice A. Badharudeen, Kerala High CourtLiveLaw and The New Indian Express report this as the court's holding. Vijayan is challenging the order in the Supreme Court, so it may still be revisited.
LiveLaw · The New Indian ExpressEntries in the diary kept by CMRL's authorised representative have no evidentiary value.
Said by Kerala's Advocate GeneralThe state argued this in court. The judge found that ED's material went beyond notebooks and diaries and included witness statements, enough to require an FIR.
The New Indian Express · The Times of IndiaWhat each side says
Shajahan argued that the preliminary inquiry was intended to protect the corrupt and asked the court to order an FIR.
The Times of IndiaThe Advocate General opposed the petition and argued that the diary entries relied on had no evidentiary value.
The New Indian Express · The Times of IndiaNot yet known
- ?Whether the Supreme Court will accept Vijayan's argument that the order is void because he was not heard.
Sources
3 outlets across the spectrum. Leanings are a rough guide to who reported it, not a verdict on accuracy.
- LiveLawKerala High Court Directs FIR Against Ex-CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Daughter Based On ED Information In CMRL-Exalogic Case
- The New Indian ExpressKerala HC directs Vigilance to register FIR against Pinarayi Vijayan, kin in CMRL-Exalogic case
- The Times of IndiaCMRL pay-off case: Kerala High Court orders FIR against Pinarayi, Veena, Riyas
Spasht writes original summaries. Follow the links to read each outlet's own report. Revision 1.