New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday observed that there was no legal hurdle in framing of conspiracy charges againt Jiji Thomson in the palmolein corruption case.
The apex court also refused to immediately intervene in to the plea submitted by Jiji Thomson.
The case pertains to alleged corruption in import of palmolein through a Singapore-based firm when Karunakaran was Chief Minister in 1992. Jiji Thomson was the MD of the state Civil Supplies Corporation.
The case had haunted Karunakaran during his last stint as Chief Minister with the Opposition as well as rivals in the Congress seizing on the issue to run him down.
The vigilance inquiry into the deal was ordered by the LDF ministry led by E K Nayanar in 1999.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was the Finance Minister then.