Relief for Pinarayi: SC raps Kerala government, stays vigilance probe in 'monthly payment' case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court stayed the Vigilance investigation initiated against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Mohammed Riyas for one week in the monthly payment case. A special bench of the Supreme Court insisted that the Division Bench of the High Court hear the case first. It was the Enforcement Directorate (ED)—not the court—that directed the state government to register a case. The Supreme Court also questioned the state government about the reasons that led to it not filing an appeal when the single-judge bench ordered the registration of a case.

Despite the Dussehra holidays, a special vacation bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, heard the appeal, taking into account the urgent nature of the case. The Supreme Court sharply criticised the state government for not conducting any preliminary inquiry before registering such a case against the former Chief Minister.

The court pointed out that it was the government's responsibility to file an appeal. While the FIR against Pinarayi and Riyas will remain, the Supreme Court's stance indicates that further investigation into the case cannot be conducted. The High Court Division Bench may decide on whether or not to quash the case.

A single bench of the Kerala High Court had directed that a vigilance case be registered against Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and his son-in-law—who is also a former minister—Mohammad Riyas. A division bench upheld this decision. Following this, all three individuals approached the Supreme Court.