New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition filed by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan seeking a vigilance probe into alleged financial transactions between Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) and Exalogic Solutions, a firm once owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter, Veena Vijayan.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran observed that the court would not interfere with the findings of the lower courts, remarking that “political disputes should be fought in the ballot box, not in courtrooms.”
The plea had challenged a Kerala High Court order dated March 28, 2025, which upheld a Vigilance Court’s decision rejecting Kuzhalnadan’s request for an investigation. The High Court had ruled that the materials submitted only created suspicion and did not provide sufficient grounds to register an offense.
Appearing for Kuzhalnadan, Senior Advocate Guru Krishna Kumar argued that Exalogic had entered into a contract with CMRL, which had paid ₹1.72 crore to the firm between 2017 and 2020. He further claimed that in proceedings before the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board, CMRL admitted that no services were rendered by Exalogic in exchange for the payments.
However, the Supreme Court Bench maintained that these allegations did not constitute a legally cognizable offense at the pre-cognizance stage. Dismissing the plea, the court reiterated its reluctance to intervene in politically sensitive matters lacking substantive evidence.
With this ruling, the apex court effectively upheld the findings of the lower courts, while leaving open the door for future legal action should new, verifiable evidence emerge.
The verdict marks a significant moment in the ongoing political debate surrounding the CMRL–Exalogic controversy, which has drawn intense scrutiny in Kerala’s political landscape.
