CPI(M) welcomes HC stay on FIRs against Vijayan, kin

The High Court’s stay on VACB FIRs and probe against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his kin in the alleged CMRL bribery case for a period of four weeks was welcomed by the CPI(M) on Monday, while the BJP termed it as “unfortunate”.

Besides keeping the FIRs and probe in the cases in abeyance, the High Court also stayed the single-judge order of October 9 directing the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to lodge FIRs against Mr. Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and her husband P. A. Mohamed Riyas based on the information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged CMRL bribery case.

CPI(M) State secretary M V Govindan welcomed the verdict, terming it as upholding the rule of law.

He also contended that the order has vindicated the party’s stand that the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) bribery case was “fabricated” to target Mr. Vijayan and the CPI(M).

“Though the case was initially projected as being against Veena and her now defunct company Exalogic Solutions, it was intended to target Mr. Vijayan, Mr. Riyas and the CPI(M). The High Court has upheld the rule of law by not believing the false narratives in favour of continuing with the FIRs,” he claimed.

Mr. Govindan also alleged that the HC verdict has revealed the “Narendra Modi-ED-V.D. (Satheesan) collaboration” against the CPI(M).

“As we said in the past, we will legally and politically oppose the attacks against the party by this collaboration,” he told reporters.

BJP State vice president Shone George, on the other hand, termed the High Court decision as “unfortunate”.

Mr. George claimed that the State government was responsible for such an order from the High Court.

“From the very start, the State government was thinking of ways to protect Mr. Vijayan, Ms. Veena and Mr. Riyas in the matter. That stand was repeated by the Advocate General who represented the State in the High Court.

“Despite lodging of the FIRs, the AG told the court that the government was in favour of a preliminary enquiry. We strongly oppose the stand,” he contended at a press conference here.

Mr. George claimed that if the petitioner, advocate K. M. Shajahan, had not gone to the High Court seeking registration of a case in the matter, there would not have been any FIR at all.

He also pointed out that the High Court has only stayed the single-judge order and kept in abeyance the FIRs and investigation. “It has not said that Vijayan has not received bribes or that he is innocent even though claims in that regard are being made by some,” he said. “No one should be misled by such claims,” he added.

Neither the Congress-led UDF government nor leaders of the ruling front have commented yet on the High Court verdict.