The Kerala High Court's Division Bench on 15 October 2026 dismissed appeals filed by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena, former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, and others against a single judge's direction to register a Vigilance FIR in the Masappadi case. The court held that the appellants were not entitled to challenge the preliminary order through those appeals — a ruling that has handed Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan significant political momentum in his long-running campaign over the alleged financial dealings between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a company linked to Vijayan's daughter.

Kuzhalnadan's Sharp Political Riposte

Welcoming the Division Bench verdict, Kuzhalnadan turned Vijayan's own frequently invoked defence against him. 'If his hands are clean and he has nothing to hide, why is he so afraid of an FIR?' the Congress legislator asked, alluding to Vijayan's repeated public assertion that his hands were clean and he had nothing to fear. That claim had previously been amplified by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) and the broader Left camp to shield the former chief minister from criticism. Kuzhalnadan's inversion of the argument carries pointed political irony.

The MLA added that Vijayan should now face the allegations legally rather than attempt to prevent the investigation from proceeding.

Background: The CMRL-Exalogic Controversy

Kuzhalnadan has consistently pursued Vijayan — both inside and outside the Kerala Legislative Assembly — over the alleged financial links between CMRL and Exalogic Solutions. The controversy centres on whether those dealings constituted an improper benefit to Vijayan's family. This is not the first time the case has moved through the courts: last year, the High Court dismissed Kuzhalnadan's earlier plea seeking a probe in the same controversy, citing insufficient evidence to sustain the relief sought. That dismissal had given the CPI-M grounds to go on the offensive, subjecting Kuzhalnadan to sustained political criticism.

The Political Reversal

The latest ruling has shifted the political narrative considerably. A Vigilance probe into Kuzhalnadan's own landholdings at a popular Kerala hill station had been announced previously, providing the Left with fresh material to target him. Yet the Division Bench's decision to reject the appeals against the FIR registration order has neutralised much of that pressure for now. Kuzhalnadan also noted that he had deliberately refrained from approaching the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) because, in his words, he did not want to hand Vijayan over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — a remark that underscores the delicate factional dynamics at play in Kerala politics.

What Happens Next

The court order clears the way for a Vigilance FIR to be registered, though that is only a preliminary step. Registering an FIR does not amount to a finding of guilt; a full investigation must follow before any conclusions can be drawn. Vijayan, Veena, and the other appellants retain the right to challenge the investigation through other legal avenues. For Kuzhalnadan, however, who was repeatedly ridiculed by the Left for pursuing the case, the verdict offers a measure of vindication and reclaims the political initiative ahead of what is expected to be a contentious period in Kerala's opposition politics.