Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has moved an appeal in the Kerala High Court challenging the Vigilance probe into the CMRL-Exalogic monthly payment case, while simultaneously seeking to restrain the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from taking any further action in the matter. The move comes as Vijayan's legal team races to place the appeal before a Division Bench as early as Saturday, 25 October 2026.

Legal Strategy at a Glance

Vijayan has submitted before the High Court the Supreme Court order that had earlier stayed the Vigilance investigation. The petition he had previously filed against a Single Bench order is expected to be assigned a fresh number and listed before the Division Bench on priority.

His legal team is also exploring the filing of a separate writ petition to restrain the ED from proceeding further until the appeal is decided. Senior advocates are being lined up to argue the matter, with the team reportedly banking on observations in the Supreme Court order that, in their assessment, leave room for a High Court challenge.

Who Else Is in the Frame

If the ED issues fresh summons or initiates other proceedings, Vijayan, his son-in-law and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader Mohammed Riyas, and his daughter T. Veena are likely to approach the High Court for relief. According to reports, Vijayan is not expected to appear before the ED on Friday.

ED's Counter-Position

The agency maintains that the Supreme Court order has not barred it from continuing its investigation. The ED's position is that the apex court has not invalidated the agency's communication of information under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Vijayan. It also contends that the evidence remains intact and that the legal validity of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) has not been questioned.

The case's progress was reviewed on Thursday at the ED's Kochi office under the supervision of the Special Director. The agency is preparing to strongly oppose Vijayan's appeal before the High Court.

What the Hearing Could Decide

The Division Bench will be asked to halt all further proceedings — including the ED investigation — pending a decision on the appeal. The central legal question before the court will be whether the High Court should intervene to prevent the agency from taking further steps while the appeal remains pending. The outcome of this hearing could either allow the ED to proceed unhindered or place its further action in abeyance pending a final ruling.

This is a developing legal battle involving one of Kerala's most prominent political figures, and the High Court's decision is expected to set the tone for how investigations involving sitting and former chief ministers are handled under the PMLA framework.