This Article is From Jun 10, 2009

Is Kerala Cabinet divided over Vijayan's trial?

Is Kerala Cabinet divided over Vijayan's trial?
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cabinet seems to be divided over the Governor's decision to sanction the prosecution of CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin case.

After a meeting on Wednesday morning, Kerala Chief Minister Achutanandan said the decision was not shocking. On Tuesday, his own home minister said it was a shocking decision and the governor did not follow the rules.

Based on the Advocate General's advice, the Cabinet had earlier proposed to the governor not to allow the CBI to prosecute Vijayan in the multi-crore scandal.

However, on Sunday, the governor granted permission to the CBI to prosecute Vijayan, accused number nine in the Lavalin scam. Vijayan is accused of wrongly awarding a contract to the Canadian firm, SNC Lavalin, to renovate three power units 12 years ago, when he was the power minister.
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