Kerala HC Dismisses CMRL Appeal Against ED Probe

The Kerala High Court on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by CMRL against a single-judge verdict allowing the ED to continue its money laundering probe into the mining company's financial dealings with Veena T, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. 

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K V Jayakumar upheld the single-judge order of May 26 saying it finds no reason to interfere with that



judgement.

The High Court also declined the request by the lawyer for Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) to protect it for two weeks so that it can move an appeal before the Supreme Court. 

While dismissing the company's appeal, the bench said, "Non-registration of an FIR or non-filing of a complaint in respect of scheduled offence will not bar the ED from initiating civil action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).