This Article is From Jun 23, 2009

Lavalin case: CBI court summons Vijayan

Kochi:

There is fresh trouble brewing for the CPM in Kerala as the Central Bureau of Investigation special court in Kochi has summoned the party's state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the SNC Lavalin case.

The CBI had filed its first chargesheet against 11 people, including Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin scam earlier this month.

The CBI move came after state Governor RS Gavai granted permission to the apex investigation agency to prosecute Vijayan.

Vijayan is accused of corruption charges in the case and it is a bone of contention between him and his rival in party, especially Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan.

Interestingly, the CBI court has also asked for a re-investigation into the role of Congress leader and former power minister G Karthekeyan.

The case involves Canadian power company SNC Lavalin, which Pinarayi is alleged to have favoured when he was power minister in 1997. A CAG report said the state lost Rs 374 crore in the Lavalin deal.

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