Vijayan skips ED questioning in CMRL-Exalogic case citing court stay

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has informed the Enforcement Directorate that he will not comply with the agency's October 23 questioning summons in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case. Vijayan's legal counsel communicated the decision to ED officials in Kochi, citing the Supreme Court's order staying the Kerala Police probe into the matter.

The Supreme Court stay applies to an FIR registered against Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and son-in-law Mohamed Riyas in the alleged corruption case. The court's intervention has effectively halted the state police investigation, which forms the basis of the ED's current proceedings against the former Chief Minister.

The CMRL-Exalogic case centers on allegations of financial impropriety involving a technology company and the Cochin Metro Rail Limited. The investigation has drawn significant attention given Vijayan's prominent position as Kerala's Chief Minister for two consecutive terms until his retirement from electoral politics.

The ED had scheduled the questioning as part of its parallel investigation into the matter. The agency's move follows the Kerala Police's registration of the FIR against the three individuals. With the Supreme Court's stay now in place, the legal proceedings in the case are expected to face further delays pending higher court rulings on the merits.