On September 13, the SNC Lavalin Case will be heard by the Supreme Court. The court will take into account the CBI appeal against Pinarayi Vijayan’s acquittal. The petition submitted by the three defendants who were found guilty in the case against the High Court ruling will also be taken into consideration by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court ordered that these petitions should remain on the list of cases that were still pending on that particular day. The bench, which is presided over by Justice UU Lalit, made the recommendation. Over thirty times in four years, the petitions were adjourned.
Pinarayi Vijayan, former Energy Department Secretary K Mohanachandran, and former Energy Department Joint Secretary A Francis were ordered to be removed off the list of defendants on August 23, 2017, by the High Court. The high court also mandated that Kasthuri Ranga Iyer, a former chief engineer of the KSEB generating division, R Sivadasan a former board chairman, and KG Rajasekaran, a former member of the KSEB accounts department, all stand prosecution for their crimes.
On December 19, 2017, the CBI appealed the High Court decision exonerating Pinarayi Vijayan and others to the Supreme Court. However, the petition hearing took a while. The ruling that the defendants, including Kasthuriranga Iyer, should go on trial was, however, temporarily suspended. The attorneys asked the judge to issue a court order and to avoid endlessly extending the matter. On September 13, when the case is listed, Justice U U Lalit will be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
In the Idukki district, the Pallivasal, Chengulam, and Panniar hydropower plants will be renovated by the Canadian business SNC. The action is based on alleged breaches of the agreements made with Lavalin. The state allegedly lost Rs 374 crore by taking particular interest in awarding this contract to the Lavalin corporation, which is the major accusation in the Lavalin case.
