New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for questioning on October 23 in connection with a money laundering investigation involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL), officials informed PTI on Friday (October 16).The summons have been issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the former CM has been asked to appear before the agency at its Kochi office. ED had first registered a case under PMLA after taking cognisance of an FIR lodged by Kerala Police.The development comes amid parallel proceedings being conducted by the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) and the ED, following orders by the Kerala high court in the alleged CMRL-Exalogic payoff case.Kerala high court upholds FIR registration orderA division bench of the Kerala high court on Thursday (October 15) upheld an October 9 order directing the VACB to register an FIR against Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and his son-in-law, former minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas over the alleged payoff case.According to PTI, the ED has alleged that CMRL made payments coming up to Rs 2.78 crore to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by the CM’s daughter, under the pretence of information technology consultancy services.Previously, the court had also dismissed a plea contesting the order to register an FIR based on material submitted by the ED concerning alleged payments by CMRL.The court observed that an accused in a corruption case cannot be heard before an FIR is registered and that an FIR did not impede the applicants’ right to pursue constitutional or statutory remedies against the allegations, reported the New Indian Express. Following the high court’s ruling, two FIRs were registered by the VACB against Vijayan, his daughter and son-in-law.Vijayan moves Supreme CourtVijayan, on Friday, moved the Supreme Court to challenge the Kerala high court’s decision to file an FIR in the matter. Regardless, the ED had decided to move ahead with its investigation and has ordered him to appear for questioning on October 23.As per the New Indian Express report, Pinarayi’s lawyer has said that he would communicate Pinarayi’s inability to appear before the ED on October 23 as the ongoing assembly session, of which he is a part , will only conclude on October 29.