SNC-Lavalin case to come up for hearing in SC today
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New Delhi: The SNC-Lavalin case will be heard by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The top court had issued notice to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former secretary K Mohanachandran and former joint secretary A Francis on the appeal filed by the CBI.
The CBI had demanded that Pinarayi Vijayan should face the trial. Hearing of KSEB former officials R Sivadasan, Kasturirangan Iyer and K G Rajasekharan Iyer was stayed by the Supreme Court.
The SNC-Lavalin case pertained to alleged corruption and irregularities in awarding contract for renovation of three hydro-electric projects-Panniyanr, Chenkulam and Pallivasal-to Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin when Vijayan was Kerala's Power Minister in 1998. SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world.
The scam is reported to be biggest in Kerala and involves Rs 375 crore.
It is also the first time a Politburo member and a CPI-M state secretary has been charged with corruption.
Except Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, the rest of the CPI-M has been backing Vijayan.