HC verdict on Vijayan has vindicated stand, says CPI(M)

The CPI(M) today hailed the Kerala High Court order upholding Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's discharge in the SNC Lavalin graft case, terming it as a "resounding vindication" of its stand that it was a "politically motivated" case.
The CPI(M) said that the the over two decades-old case was sought to be used to "besmirch" the image of Vijayan and the party and added the court verdict has "effectively exposed these efforts".
"The judgement is a resounding vindication of the stand taken by the CPI (M) that the Lavalin case was a politically motivated case," the Politburo said in a statement, but refrained from naming any party.

While upholding the discharge of Vijayan, the high court today said the CBI had "wrongly picked" him as prima facie there was no case against him.
Justice P Ubaid, who also upheld the discharge of two others in the Rs 374.50-crore graft case, rejected the CBI's plea that their full-fledged trial was necessary to prove the conspiracy.
The case relates to awarding of contract to Canadian company SNC Lavalin for renovation of three hydel projects -- Sengulam, Pallivasal and Panniyar in 1995 when Vijayan was power minister in the then E K Nayanar cabinet.