Kerala’s Advocate General advises Govt. against prosecuting Vijayan in Lavalin case

Kerala's AG 'advised' the state government about not having any firm ground to permit prosecution of Vijayan in the Lavalin graft case.

Kerala’s Advocate General on Saturday ‘advised’ the ruling LDF government that there was no firm ground to grant permission to prosecute former minister and CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the politically sensitive SNC Lavalin graft case,as sought by the CBI.

According to official sources,Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad,in a letter to the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan,has ‘advised’ the government that there is no firm ground to grant permission to arraign Vijayan as an accused in the case.

The AG had opined that there was no firm ground to accuse Vijayan of having made any financial benefit out of the contract,they said.

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The case relates to alleged corruption in awarding of contract for renovation of three hydro power stations in 1998 to Canadian firm SNC Lavalin,when Vijayan was power minister in the then LDF Government.

Four months back,CBI had written to Governor R S Gavai,seeking permission to prosecute Vijayan,who,in turn,referred the matter to the state Government.

Considering the political ramifications,the government had referred the matter to the Advocate General to formulate legal opinion in the vital question in the case.

The sources said the state cabinet is expected to consider the AG’s opinion next week and inform its position to the Governor.

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