New Delhi, Oct. 21 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed further investigation for seven days in the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL)-Exalogic payoff case involving former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter Veena T and son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas, allowing them to challenge the Kerala high court's order directing the registration of a criminal case.

"We direct the investigation in the FIR shall remain stayed for a week. Our order shall not be taken as an opinion expressed on the interim relief that the division bench (of the high court) shall fashion based on facts and the law," a bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said.

The bench clarified that the stay applied only to further investigation and not to...