Kerala govt's move to seek early hearing in Lavalin case 'politically motivated', says CPI(M)

The CPI(M) on Thursday, denounced the Congress-led Kerala government's "politically motivated" move of seeking a early hearing of a revision petition filed against a CBI court verdict acquitting party politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan in SNC-Lavalin graft case.

"The party politburo condemns the politically motivated Congress-led UDF government's move of approaching Kerala High Court for an early hearing of the revision petition on allegations against Vijayan in the Lavalin case," the party said in a statement.

CPI(M) noted that the CBI court had rejected charges against the leader and found no basis for framing a chargesheet in the case in November 2013.

"Now, after nearly two years, the state government has moved for an early hearing of the review petition. This is clearly a politically motivated move coming on the eve of forthcoming assembly election," the party said.

The state government on Wednesday approached the HC seeking "urgent" hearing of the revision petition filed against a CBI court verdict acquitting Vijayan in the case.

The case pertains to an agreement with Canadian firm SNC Lavalin for renovation of three hydro electric power projects which allegedly caused a loss of Rs 374.50 crore to the state exchequer.

The final agreement with the company was signed when Vijayan was power minister in the 1990s in the LDF ministry headed by the late E K Nayanar.