The Supreme Court today scheduled the appeal lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the discharge of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other officials in the SNC Lavalin case for final hearing on May 1,2024.
Reportedly, connected appeals filed by accused officials who seek discharge in the case will also be heard along with the CBI’s appeal. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan adjourned the hearing today after being told that Advocates-on-Record of some of the respondents have been recently designated as Senior Advocate, requiring the need for engaging other AoRs.
Appearing for Congress leader and former Kerala Opposition Leader VM Sudheeran, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat opposed adjournment stating that the matter has been adjourned 30 times so far. The Senior Advocate alleged that the CBI has lost interest in the matter and that most adjournments were at their instance.
Countering, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is taking the matter very seriously and that they are ready to argue on any date fixed by the court.
Initially, the bench said that it would post the matter for final hearing and listed it in July 2024. Consecutively, ASG Raju requested an earlier date, either in March or April. The bench responded that it would require at least two consecutive hearing days for the matter and the same may not be available in March and April owing to several holidays, which would make most days of these months miscellaneous case days. However, it then agreed to post the matter on May 1.
Notably, the CBI alleged that the contract given to SNC Lavalin, a Canadian company for renovation and refurbishment of 3 hydro-electric projects in Kerala, when Vijayan was Minister of Power in 1996-98, was marred by corruption. It is further alleged that the contract in question resulted in a loss of Rs 86 crores.