India, Oct. 16 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to appear before it for questioning next week regarding the alleged Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL)-Exalogic payoffs, even as the Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it may constitute a special bench during the Dussehra holidays to hear his plea seeking protection from arrest.

Officials familiar with the matter said Vijayan has been summoned to the ED's zonal unit office in Kochi on October 23. This is the first time that the central agency has summoned him in the case.

On Thursday, the Kerala high court refused to interfere with an order directing the registration of first information reports (FIRs) against Vija...