The Supreme Court has scheduled the final hearing of the appeals, asserting Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s need to stand trial in the SNC Lavalin corruption case.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has scheduled the final hearing of the appeals in the high-profile SNC Lavalin corruption case, involving Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, for May 1. This case has drew attention due to its implications on political and legal landscapes.
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During a session presided over by Justices Surya Kant and K.V. Viswanathan, the court was approached by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who requested an expedited hearing, preferably in March or April. However, due to the court’s packed schedule, the initial dates proposed for May 8 were adjusted to May 1 and 2, allowing for consecutive days of deliberation.
This case has seen numerous postponements, having been listed for hearing 30 times since 2017 without progress, a point of contention highlighted by one of the appellants.
According to the CBI counsel, the agency was not at fault for the postponements.
It’s not like the CBI doesn’t want to investigate the matter… The attorney argued that the case could be scheduled for any day.
Both the Kerala High Court and the Special Court, CBI, in Thiruvananthapuram, dismissed Mr. Vijayan’s accusation.
The backdrop of the controversy is the alleged financial misconduct linked to the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) contract with Canadian firm Lavalin for the renovation of three hydroelectric projects, which reportedly resulted in a loss of ₹86.25 crore. Vijayan, who served as the State’s Power Minister at the time, has been accused of making pivotal decisions that favored Lavalin during a visit to Canada in 1997.
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Despite these allegations, both the Special Court, CBI, in Thiruvananthapuram, and the Kerala High Court have previously discharged Vijayan, along with two former KSEB senior officers, from the accusations. However, the CBI has challenged these decisions, asserting that the Chief Minister should stand trial.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case in May follows its earlier advisement to the CBI to present “very strong arguments” given the prior discharges by the lower courts. This directive emphasize the scrutiny anticipated in the upcoming hearings.
Additionally, the case has seen interventions from various quarters, including Congress leader and former Kerala Opposition Leader VM Sudheeran, who criticized the frequent adjournments and questioned the CBI’s commitment to the case. In contrary, the CBI insists on its willingness and readiness to proceed on any scheduled date.
This legal battle not only highlight the complexities of political corruption cases in India but also emphasizes the judicial system’s challenges in managing its schedule amidst a backlog of cases. As the final hearing approaches, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court for a resolution that could have far-reaching implications for governance and accountability in India.
The involvement of other accused officials seeking discharge and the participation of legal representatives for various parties add layers to this intricate legal battle, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of judicial proceedings in high-profile corruption cases.
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The investigating agency claims that corruption breached the contract awarded to the Canadian company SNC Lavalin for the restoration and upkeep of three hydroelectric projects in Kerala during Vijayan’s tenure as Minister of Power (from 1996 to 1998). The disputed contract allegedly caused a loss of Rs. 86 crores.
In November 2013, Vijayan and several other officials who were charged in the case were released by a Thiruvananthapuram Special CBI Court. Four years later, the Kerala High Court granted the Kerala State Electricity Board’s (KSEB) appeal against the dismissal of four more officials, while upholding the dismissal of Vijayan and two other former KSEB employees.
In 2018, the agency petitioned the highest court in opposition to the High Court’s order expelling Vijayan and others. The Supreme Court was also consulted by the officials who were not dismissed from the case: former KSEB Chief Engineer Kasthuri Ranga Iyer, former KSEB Chairman R Sivadasan, and former Chief Account Officer K.G. Rajasekharan Nair. The court allowed permission to appeal today in the CBI’s appeal as well as in the petitions submitted by Nair, Sivadasan, and Iyer.
CASE TITLE: Kasthuri Ranga Iyer v. State represented by Addl. Superintendent of Police CBI and Ors
