Kerala HC asks why no FIR on ED material in CMRL pay-off case
KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Saturday asked the state government why it had not registered an FIR on material shared by the Enforcement Directorate in the CMRL pay-off case involving former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family.
The Advocate General Jaju Babu told the court an FIR could be registered only after a preliminary inquiry. The ED argued that the state police were required to register a case and investigate the alleged scheduled offences disclosed during its inquiry.
Justice A Badharudeen said the court would examine whether police have any option other than registering an FIR when the ED forwards information under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, or whether they may first conduct a preliminary inquiry.
According to reports, the ED alleged that Vijayan received Rs 3.28 crore from Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd through his daughter Veena T between March 2017 and May 2019 under a sham agreement without services being rendered. These remain allegations before the court.
The ED said it had shared information with the state police chief after finding transactions that could attract provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Its counsel said the material would be produced in a sealed cover at the next hearing.
The state questioned the maintainability of the private writ petition filed by political activist KM Shajahan and argued that the ED should approach the court if it was aggrieved by the absence of an FIR. The court is expected to hear the legal question in detail.
