ED summons Pinarayi Vijayan in money laundering case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23 in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic money laundering case, even as he has approached the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order directing registration of an FIR against him and his family members.

The summons, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), came on Friday, hours after Vijayan moved the apex court seeking relief against the FIR order. His daughter Veena T and son-in-law Mohammed Riyas have also approached the SC in the matter. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra mentioned Vijayan's petition before a bench headed by CJI Surya Kant, seeking urgent listing and protection against coercive action following registration of the FIR.

The CJI indicated that the matter could be listed on October 26 or 27, when the court reopens after Dussehra vacation.


He said a special bench could be considered during the vacation, subject to availability of judges. Senior advocate N Hariharan mentioned the petitions filed by Veena and Riyas.

Luthra submitted that Vijayan, aged 81, faced the prospect of being taken into custody following registration of the FIR. He questioned the single judge's decision to direct registration of the case in a writ petition, contending that the bench did not have the roster to hear public interest litigation. He argued that the affected persons had not been heard before the order was passed and that the Kerala High Court Division Bench subsequently refused them permission to appeal.

On October 15, a division bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed the three applicants' pleas seeking leave to appeal against the single judge's October 9 order. It held that they had not established a prima facie or arguable case for leave, while clarifying that the order did not prevent them from pursuing appropriate constitutional or statutory remedies.