English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

SNC Lavalin case: SC to re-examine Kerala CM Vijayan’s discharge in case

Published

on

SNC Lavalin case: SC to re-examine Kerala CM Vijayan's discharge in case

SC admits CBI’s appeal against discharge of Pinarayi Vijayan and others in the case by Kerala HC, stays trial till further orders

In a move that could have serious political ramifications in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Thursday (January 11) admitted an appeal by the CBI challenging the discharge of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and two others in the SNC Lavalin corruption case by the Kerala High Court.

The apex court, which is hearing an appeal filed by other accused in the case who had not been discharged by the Kerala High Court, stayed the trial till further orders and issued notices to Vijayan, K. Mohanachandran and A Francis. Mohanachandran and Francis were senior officials in the Kerala government’s department of power in the 1990s when the alleged SNC Lavalin scam took place while Vijayan was the state’s energy minister.

Vijayan and the two others had been discharged in the case by the Kerala High Court in August last year. The CBI had appealed to the apex court against their discharge from all criminal and corruption charges and argued that the case needed to be re-heard.

On Thursday, a Bench of Justices NV Ramana and S Abdul Nazeer issued notice on the CBI appeal to Vijayan – now the Kerala chief minister – and the two former bureaucrats of the Kerala power department. However, the apex court dismissed the discharge petitions moved by KG Rajasekharan Nair, then Member (Accounts) of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kasthuriranga Iyer, who was Chief Engineer (Generation) in the Board.

Nair and Iyer had submitted before the apex court that they should have been treated at par with Vijayan and the other two accused who had been discharged in the case. The Bench has now asked the CBI to counter the submissions made by Nair and Iyer.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench: “I have a problem with the release of some accused alone” while asserting that the Kerala High Court had overstepped its jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution and that the SNC Lavalin case needed to be re-heard. The CBI also told the apex court that there was “ample material to show the involvement” of Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin deal involving the award of contracts for the renovation of the three hydel power projects in Kerala in the 1990s.

The CBI said that the Kerala High Court had accused the premier investigation agency of adopting a “pick and choose” policy in naming the accused in the case but had employed the same tool while discharging Vijayan and some others from the case and leaving the rest of the charge-sheeted persons to face trial.

“All decisions [in the Lavalin deal) were taken with the knowledge of all the accused persons named in the charge sheet… discharge of the accused may lead to miscarriage of justice and delay the trial,” the CBI petition has contended.

“It is a matter of fact that there was ample material to prima facie show conspiracy in the matter, which may have been appreciated at the stage of trial only,” it said.

Appearing for the appellants in the case, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi urged the Bench to grant status quo on the trial proceedings stating that appeals made against earlier orders in the case by the Kerala High Court were pending before the Supreme Court.

“We have not been discharged. Continuation of trial will be detrimental to us now,” Rohatgi said on behalf of his client.

All accused, except the three discharged – including Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan – are facing trial for causing a loss of Rs 86.25 crore in the KSEB’s contracts with Canadian company SNC Lavalin for the renovation and modernisation of Pallivasai, Sengulam and Panniar hydroelectric power projects in Idukki district of Kerala.

The work was awarded to Lavalin, which was a consultancy firm, allegedly without inviting any tenders for the works that were estimated to cost Rs 243.74 crore. By the time work was completed, the costs had escalated to Rs 374.5 crore. Besides, the KSEB had failed to execute a binding agreement from Lavalin for a grant of Rs 98.3 crore for the construction of the Malabar Cancer Centre. A criminal case was registered on February 12, 2007 and the CBI filed its charge sheet on June 12, 2009.

For several years since the alleged scam broke, it was the cause of much political discomfiture for Vijayan. Political observers in Kerala claim that his alleged role in the SNC Lavalin scam is what had stalled his elevation to the Kerala chief minister’s post in May 2006 when the Left Front won the state assembly polls. The post eventually went to Vijayan’s senior and bitter rival VS Achuthanandan despite the latter’s advancing age.

In the run up to the May 2016 Kerala Assembly polls, the then incumbent Congress-led coalition government under Oomen Chandy, which was also facing charges of corruption, had sought to rake up Vijayan’s alleged involvement in the Lavalin scam hoping to dent the Left Front’s imminent romp to power in the state.

Less than a year after Vijayan became chief minister, the Kerala High Court discharged him in the Lavalin case giving him the much needed political and moral high ground to challenge the alleged corruption of his predecessor’s government and also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government at the Centre.

Over the past two years, Vijayan has been one of the most strident critics of the BJP among the Opposition leaders from across the country and has systematically succeeded in ensuring that the saffron party’s plans of making political inroads in Kerala do not succeed. His stature within the Left Front, more specifically the CPI (M), has also seen a meteoric rise and he has consolidated his position as the undisputed leader of the Kerala faction of the party, along with Prakash Karat. It was Vijayan’s ‘veto’ that dashed the party’s Bengal faction’s effort of securing a third Rajya Sabha term for Sitaram Yechury last year.

However, with the possibility of the SC now re-examining his discharge in the SNC Lavalin case and ordering that he stand trial for the over-two decade old alleged scam, tough political times lie ahead for Vijayan.

India News

Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

Published

on

Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

Continue Reading

India News

Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

Published

on

Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

Continue Reading

India News

To browbeat, bully others is vintage Congress, says PM Modi after lawyers express concern over attempts to undermine judiciary

Lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

Published

on

PM Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party after more than 600 lawyers and some bar associations across the country wrote to the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing concerns over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity using political and professional pressure.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote that to browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. He recalled that five decades ago, the party itself had called for a committed judiciary, adding that they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests, but desist from any commitment towards the nation. He concluded that no wonder, 140 crore Indians are rejecting them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments followed after lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

The lawyers said the tactics used by the vested interest group are damaging the courts and threatening democratic fabric. They stated that Chief Justice Chandrachud’s leadership is crucial in these tough times and the Supreme Court should stand strong, adding it is not the time to maintain dignified silence.

Without naming, the letter also targeted a section of lawyers and alleged they defend politicians by day and then try to influence judges through the media at night. Furthermore, they claimed that some elements are trying to influence who the judges are in their cases and spread lies on social media to put pressure on the judges to decide in a particular way.

In addition, the All Manipur Bar Association had also written to CJI DY Chandrachud highlighting the need to speak out against underhanded attacks on the judiciary on Wednesday. In its letter, the bar association said that it was extremely concerned about recent trends where vested interest groups were trying to defame the courts with frivolous logic and stale political agendas.

Continue Reading

Trending

-->

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com