Overview

• Justice V.G. Arun granted a three-month interim stay on the criminal proceedings against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
• The stay suspends sanction proceedings ordered by the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate after he rejected a police report clearing the chief minister of instigation.
• Congress leader Muhammed Shiyas accused Vijayan’s November 2023 remarks praising bystanders after a black-flag protest of provoking violence against Youth Congress members.
• The complaint traces back to a November 20, 2023 incident during the Nava Kerala Sadas tour when Youth Congress members obstructed the chief minister’s convoy.
• In his petition, Vijayan contends that his speech merely commended life-saving actions and contained no calls for retaliation.