BJP Criticizes Supreme Court Ruling on Vijayan Case, Targets CPI(M) and Congress

Thiruvananthapuram, October 21 (Daily Kiran) : The BJP’s national secretary, K. Surendran, expressed strong criticism following the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the CMRI-Exalogic case. On Wednesday, he stated that neither the CPI(M) nor the Congress has reason to celebrate the decision. Surendran emphasized that the court did not dismiss the FIR filed against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family, nor did it grant them any special concessions.

He pointed out that the court has given the accused just one week to present their arguments. This, he noted, is a clear indication that the case remains serious. Surendran’s comments came in response to the Supreme Court’s directive, which temporarily halted a vigilance inquiry against Vijayan, his daughter Veena T, and son-in-law P.A. Mohammed Riyas, allowing them seven days to appeal to the Kerala High Court.

Surendran highlighted the Supreme Court’s probing questions to the state government regarding the delay in filing the FIR, suggesting that this reinforces allegations of attempts to suppress the case. He asserted that the law must take its course and that those who commit crimes should face justice.

In contrast, Congress leader and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala viewed the Supreme Court’s ruling as a validation of the state government’s initial approach. He argued that the government acted correctly by carefully examining the Enforcement Directorate’s letter and delaying the FIR’s filing to ensure a thorough preliminary investigation.

Chennithala noted that the state government was compelled to file an FIR after a single judge of the Kerala High Court ordered it without a preliminary investigation. He interpreted the Supreme Court’s refusal to annul the FIR as an affirmation of the legality of the state’s actions. He further explained that the one-week stay was merely to allow the accused time to present their arguments before the High Court.

The Supreme Court’s ruling enables Vijayan and other petitioners to challenge a previous order from October 9, which mandated the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau to file an FIR based on information provided by the Enforcement Directorate. The court overturned the High Court’s decision to deny the petitioners the right to appeal and imposed a seven-day stay on further investigation.

This case pertains to alleged payments made by Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company associated with Veena. The allegations are being contested, and the Supreme Court clarified that its comments were limited to the petitioners’ right to appeal and did not address the merits of the case. The High Court’s division bench will now consider any appeals and requests for interim relief in accordance with the law.