The Kerala High Court has directed state authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) under the Prevention of Corruption Act against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T Veena and son-in-law P A Mohammed Riyas in connection with alleged financial dealings between a private mining company and Veena's IT firm, Exalogic Solutions.

Justice A Badharudeen passed the order while allowing a writ petition filed by public activist and advocate KM Shahjahan.

The state government had ordered a preliminary inquiry into the allegations without registering an FIR after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shared findings from its money laundering investigation. The High Court's ruling now requires the authorities to register a formal criminal case.

The case concerns financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), a private mining company, and Exalogic Solutions, an IT firm owned by Veena.

According to findings cited in the investigation, Exalogic allegedly received monthly payments worth crores of rupees for services that were purportedly not provided. The ED's findings shared with state authorities also referred to alleged fund transfers, including ₹85 lakh sent abroad and more than ₹20 crore distributed within the country.

The Kerala Home Department had argued that a preliminary investigation by the Crime Branch was sufficient and that the law did not mandate the immediate registration of an FIR. The petitioner challenged this approach, seeking formal criminal proceedings into the allegations.

The High Court allowed the petition and directed the registration of an FIR under anti-corruption laws.

The development could also have implications for the ED's money laundering investigation. A registered FIR for the alleged underlying offence may provide the basis for further proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), subject to the applicable legal requirements.

Shaji said those who had nothing to hide should not fear an investigation. He also criticised alleged attempts to intimidate investigating agencies, referring to incidents involving attacks on ED vehicles.

Citing his own experience of facing investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED, Shaji said he had confronted the process without intimidation. He also referred to Rahul Gandhi's questioning by the ED.

Shaji further alleged that Vijayan was attempting to build a defence against the investigation because he had something to hide. These remarks represent Shaji's allegations and do not establish the guilt of any person named in the case.