Kerala vigilance bureau registers two FIRs in CMRL-Exalogic case naming Pinarayi Vijayan

Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) registered two first information reports (FIRs) on Monday, 12 October 2026, in the CMRL-Exalogic case, naming former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas as accused, according to The Hindu, The New Indian Express and The Federal. The FIRs are registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. An FIR records allegations for investigation; it is not a finding of guilt, and those named have not been convicted of anything.

What the FIRs say

According to The Federal, Mr Vijayan, now the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, is the first accused in the FIR concerning payments that Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) allegedly made to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct IT company owned by Ms Veena. Mr Riyas, a CPI(M) MLA and Ms Veena’s husband, is the first accused in a second FIR that concerns alleged corruption proceeds and the transfer of money abroad through intermediaries. Ms Veena is the second accused in both, The Federal reported.

The New Indian Express, citing sources, reported that the FIRs were registered by the VACB’s Special Investigation Unit-1. The Hindu, citing official sources, reported that the first FIR alleges possible misuse of public office, receipt of an improper financial benefit and criminal conspiracy.

Background

The Hindu reported that the payments first came under scrutiny after an August 2023 report of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board, which stated that Ms Veena and her company received ₹1.72 crore as monthly payments from CMRL with no evidence of services in return. The ED later investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. According to The New Indian Express and The Federal, the ED alleges that CMRL paid about ₹2.78 crore to Exalogic in the guise of consultancy or marketing services; The Federal reported that the payments in question were made in 2017–19.

The ED forwarded information to the State Police Chief under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, flagging suspected offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The state government then ordered a preliminary inquiry by a Crime Branch special investigation team rather than registering an FIR.

On Friday, 9 October, Justice A. Badharudeen of the Kerala High Court held that the decision to hold a preliminary inquiry without an FIR was illegal, set aside the order forming the team, and directed the VACB Director to register an FIR, investigate and file a final report without undue delay, according to Bar and Bench, LiveLaw and The Federal. The Federal reported that the court found the material from the ED disclosed alleged cognisable offences. The case was brought by a petitioner, Adv. K.M. Shajahan (Bar and Bench).

Appeals and reactions

LiveLaw reported that Mr Vijayan and Ms Veena have appealed to a Division Bench of the High Court and sought leave to appeal, since they were not parties before the Single Bench. The reports reviewed did not include a response from either of them to the FIRs themselves.

What happens next

The VACB will investigate through a special team, The Federal reported. The Division Bench has yet to rule on the appeals; the reports reviewed did not give a hearing date. The Assembly session began on 12 October, and the BJP had announced a march to the Assembly the same day, according to The Hindu.