Spelling trouble for Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Central Bureau of Investigation has moved the Supreme Court against his discharge by the Kerala High Court in the SNC Lavalin corruption case.
The case is scheduled to be heard by a Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana on January 12, 2018.
The criminal case concerns the renovation and refurbishment of three hydro electric projects — the Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniar projects — and contracts/ transactions between the Kerala State Electricity Board and SNC Lavalin, a Canadian entity.
The High Court had upheld a trial court decision to discharge Mr. Vijayan and two others on August 23, 2017.
HC’s conclusion
On Mr. Vijayan, the High Court had concluded that he cannot be prosecuted in the absence of “strong and definite material and circumstances to show that he had some sort of unholy nexus with the SNC Lavalin or the other accused.”
The CBI alleged that Mr. Vijayan, who was then Kerala Electricity Minister, wrongly entered into contracts with SNC Lavalin in February 1997 without any expert feasibility study or technical reports. It had alleged that there was neither any global tender called for the projects nor fixation of rates.
It has pointed out that Mr. Vijayan and two others were exonerated in the case without a clear finding to point out the reasons for their discharge. The CBI said its chargesheet pointed to a collective responsibility of all the accused persons, including Mr. Vijayan.
The agency said it was extraordinary that Mr. Vijayan and two other accused persons were discharged from all charges in the case even before the commencement of the trial, while the High Court ordered the prosecution of the remaining accused.
