Vizhinjam project: HC issues notice to Gautam Adani, Oommen Chandy

Kochi: A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued notices to Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, and K Babu, former Minister for Ports, on a petition seeking CBI probe into alleged lapses in awarding the Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Seaport project to Adani group.

The petition filed by M K Salim of Kollam also sought a probe under the supervision of the Court. Salim submitted the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found the state’s interests were not protected when the deal was signed.

The CAG report said the agreement between the state government and Adani Group on the Vizhinjam Harbour seaport was one-sided. It said though the standard concession period was only 30 years, extendable by another 20 years, the current deal mentioned the standard concession period as 40 years.

This stipulation would allow Adani Group to collect another Rs 29,217 crore and a total of more than Rs 60,000 crore if it was extended by another 20 years.

Salim submitted the CAG report also listed various unfavourable conditions in the concession agreement of the project which went against the state’s interests and to the advantage of Adani Group. He submitted that Chandy and Babu were responsible for the alleged loss to the exchequer and for not protecting the state’s interest. The petitioner also requested a directive for making necessary modifications in the agreement, and thereby protecting the interest of the state.