Revision petition admitted

Kerala High Court today admitted the revision petition filed by CBI challenging the discharge of CPI-M State Secretary Pinarayi Vijyan and six others in a graft case by a Special CBI Court.
Justice K Ramakrishnan admitted the petition and ordered issue of notice to the accused including Vijayan in the SNC Lavalin graft case.
While hearing the petition, the Court asked CBI about the government decision on dispensing with floating global tender for awarding contract for the modernisation of three hydro electric project during initial stages of the project in 1995.
CBI submitted in the court that contract was awarded in violation of procedures and at exorbitant rate.

The case came into focus recently after four judges of the court rescued from hearing the case.However, Justice Ramakrishnan finally decided to hear a revision petition on February 4.
The CBI Special Court, Thiruvananthapuram, had in November last discharged Vijayan, who was Power Minister in 1996 and six other accused from the Rs 374.50 crore graft case in connection with the awarding of contract for renovation of Sengulam, Panniar and Pallivasal hydro-electric projects.
The special judge had ruled in the judgment that the CBI had failed to prove the charges of conspiracy and corruption levelled against Vijayan and other accused.