CBI says Pinarayi Vijayan signed the deal

CBI today informed the special court hearing the discharge petition by CPI(M) Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in a corruption case that partial approval for the contract to modernise three-hydro electric project was given when Vijayn was the Power Minister in 1998.
Countering the argument of Vijayan that financial aid for cancer centre was not part of the deal, CBI produced a copy of a letter written by Vijayan to SNC Lavalin seeking help for the cancer centre.
Approval to the deal was given partially at the meeting held at Vijayan's chamber in April 1998. Klaus Triendl, representative of the Lavalin Company took part in the meeting. Former chairman of the electricity board Mohana Chandran was also present, CBI informed the court.

Giving approval for the deal without signing the final deal was also wrong, CBI said.
CBI also said the advice of the Financial Department to go for a global tender to award the contract was ignored by the power department. Similarly, a dissent note by the Finance department on the agreement was corrected by the power department, CBI pointed out.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in awarding renovation contract of three hydro electric project to Canada based S N C Lavalin company.
The CBI in June 2012 had filed charge-sheets against nine accused in the Rs 374-crore case relating to awarding of contract to Canada-based SNC Lavalin company. Vijayan was the seventh accused in the case.