Thiruvananthapuram, 10 Oct (H.S.): Kerala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau will register a case on Monday naming former Chief Minister and current Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan as the first accused in connection with alleged monthly payments and hawala transactions, following a High Court directive.

The bureau’s Special Investigation Unit in Thiruvananthapuram will register the FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Vigilance Director Manoj Abraham said a special team would investigate the allegations.

The Home Minister said the government had no reason to appeal against the ruling, indicating that it would proceed despite the CPI(M)’s demand for a challenge.

Acting on a report submitted by the Enforcement Directorate, the High Court’s single bench directed the authorities to register a case and investigate rather than conduct a preliminary inquiry.

The court also quashed an order issued by the Director General of Police constituting a special investigation team without government approval. It clarified that the authority to appoint such a team rested with the government.

The judgment reached Vigilance headquarters on Friday evening and is being examined by the bureau’s legal advisers. Officials plan to register the FIR on Monday morning, with the intervening two days being non-working days.

The bureau is proceeding cautiously amid the possibility that Vijayan and Mohammed Riyas may approach the High Court, questioning alleged procedural defects in the registration of the case.

The Crime Branch has handed over all relevant records to Vigilance. The authorities’ position is that prior approval to investigate Vijayan and Riyas is unnecessary because the High Court has ordered the probe.

The government will issue an order approving a special investigation team recommended by the Vigilance Director.

Vijayan, meanwhile, is preparing to appeal against the single bench ruling. The proposed investigation will examine the allegations, while any findings of wrongdoing will depend on evidence gathered during the probe.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman