New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed the FIR registered by the CBI against K.M. Abraham, the Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CEO of KIIFB, in connection with a complaint alleging accumulation of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The stay was granted on the basis of Abraham’s argument that a case cannot be registered without prior prosecution sanction. The Supreme Court issued notices to the respondents in response to a petition filed by Abraham challenging the High Court order in the illegal assets case. Notices have been sent to the CBI, Jomon Puthenpurackal and the State Government.

Meanwhile, the State Government supported Abraham’s stance in the Supreme Court. Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the State Government, pointed out that an FIR cannot be registered without prior prosecution sanction.

The bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan heard the petition. Senior Advocates R. Basant and G. Prakash, appearing for Abraham, argued that previous judgements of the Supreme Court had made it clear that an FIR cannot be registered without prosecution sanction.

They also pointed out that a related petition is currently under the consideration of the Supreme Court. The State’s legal representatives, Senior Advocate Jaideep Gupta and Standing Counsel C.K. Sasi, argued that the case against Abraham is not legally sustainable. Following these arguments, the Supreme Court issued an interim stay order. Advocate M.R. Abhilash appeared on behalf of Jomon Puthenpurackal, who filed the objection petition.