Kerala High Court orders corruption case against Pinarayi Vijayan family

The Kerala High Court has ordered the registration of a corruption case against opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, and son-in-law P.A. Mohamed Riyas, a CPI(M) MLA. This directive follows a single judge's order and intensifies scrutiny on the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government's legal position regarding the allegations. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered two related FIRs.

UDF government's legal stance criticized

K.K. Rema, the Vadakara MLA and leader of the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP), has condemned the UDF government's legal stance in the case. Rema stated that the government's position before the High Court division bench undermines its own anti-corruption commitments and contradicts public sentiment. She expressed disappointment that the government, which came to power partly due to public anger over alleged corruption linked to Mr. Vijayan, would take such a stand.

Rema argued that the payments from CMRL to Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Vijayan's daughter Veena, were not legitimate business transactions. She cited findings from the Income Tax Department's Interim Settlement Board, which preceded investigations by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office and the Enforcement Directorate. Rema also questioned explanations from Vijayan and his family regarding alleged hawala dealings noted in a seized red book.

She further criticized the CPI(M)'s internal error-correction campaign, questioning its credibility while its leader faces serious allegations. The core issue, according to Rema, is whether opposition parties are willing to remove a leader facing such charges from the position of Leader of the Opposition. N. Venu, the RMP State secretary, echoed these criticisms, accusing the state's Advocate General of ridiculing the complainant in the case, K.M. Shajahan.

Political context and electoral significance

The RMP's open objection marks a significant moment in Kerala politics. The party is an associate member and a crucial outside partner for the UDF, essential for its electoral success in the Kozhikode district, particularly in Vadakara. This is the first time the RMP has publicly opposed the government's stand on a legal issue, highlighting internal tensions over the corruption case.

Within the Congress, the leading party of the UDF, there has been internal debate over the government's handling of the allegations. Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan had expressed concern over an earlier government decision to order only a preliminary inquiry instead of registering an FIR against Vijayan and his family. He received support from party colleagues Kannur MP K. Sudhakaran and Jinto John. Rema, a Congress leader who also leads the RMP, entered active politics after her husband, RMP leader T.P. Chandrasekharan, was murdered by CPI(M)-linked assailants in 2012.

The High Court's order to register the corruption case against Pinarayi Vijayan and his family remains the central legal development requiring further judicial action.