No further action in monthly pay-off case for two months, relief for Veena Vijayan; High Court halts proceedings

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has ordered a status quo in the high-profile monthly pay-off case. The court, which accepted CMRL's petition, has ordered a two-month status quo in the case. The directive effectively pauses the issuance of summons based on the chargesheet filed by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), granting temporary relief to the accused, including Veena Vijayan, daughter of the Kerala Chief Minister.

The Central Government had requested more time to present its detailed arguments, prompting the court to suspend proceedings for two months. The case will now be transferred to a new division bench of the High Court.

In a related development, it was recently reported that the SFIO’s chargesheet in the case would be shared with the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This move follows an order from the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, which approved the ED's application seeking access to the chargesheet.

According to a senior ED official, a formal request has been sent to the SFIO seeking the necessary documents. The charges listed in the report are believed to involve violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The official further stated that the ED would examine the documents before deciding on registering a case.