India, Sept. 26 -- The Kerala High Court on Saturday asked the state government why it had not registered an FIR on material shared by the Enforcement Directorate in the CMRL pay-off case involving former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family.

The Advocate General Jaju Babu told the court an FIR could be registered only after a preliminary inquiry. The ED argued that the state police were required to register a case and investigate the alleged scheduled offences disclosed during its inquiry.

Justice A Badharudeen said the court would examine whether police have any option other than registering an FIR when the ED forwards information under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, or whether they may first conduc...