Congress Legislator Questions Pinarayi Vijayans Fear of FIRs
Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan challenges former CM Pinarayi Vijayan over his fear of FIRs in financial dealings.
Kochi, October 15 (Daily Kiran) : In Kochi, Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan has intensified his scrutiny of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan following the Kerala High Court’s dismissal of an appeal against the filing of an FIR in the Masappadi case. This ruling provides Kuzhalnadan with renewed ammunition in his ongoing criticism of Vijayan, particularly regarding alleged financial transactions involving Kochi Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a company linked to Vijayan’s daughter, T. Veena.
Welcoming the court’s decision, Kuzhalnadan stated that the argument against filing a case has been effectively rejected. He urged Vijayan to confront the allegations head-on instead of attempting to obstruct the investigation. Kuzhalnadan pointedly questioned Vijayan’s repeated assertions of his innocence, asking, “If your hands are clean and you have nothing to hide, why are you so afraid of an FIR?”
This remark reflects a sharp political jab, especially in light of Vijayan’s previous claims that his integrity was beyond reproach. These assertions had garnered significant media attention, with the CPI(M) and leftist factions rallying to defend the former chief minister.
Kuzhalnadan has consistently targeted Vijayan both inside and outside the assembly, focusing on the alleged financial dealings tied to CMRL and Exalogic. However, after the High Court dismissed his petition for an investigation last year due to a lack of evidence, the political climate seemed to turn against him, with the CPI(M) seizing the opportunity to launch counterattacks.
His troubles were compounded by a recent announcement of a vigilance inquiry into his landholdings at a popular hill station in Kerala, which provided further fodder for his political opponents. Yet, the recent ruling by the division bench has significantly altered the political landscape.
The court rejected appeals by Vijayan, Veena, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, and others against a single judge’s directive to register a vigilance FIR. The court ruled that the appellants did not have the right to challenge the initial order through their appeals.
Kuzhalnadan previously refrained from approaching the CBI, as he did not want to hand Vijayan over to the BJP. The current developments suggest that the political battle between the two is far from over.
