'Ex-Ker CM's revelation about Lavalin case needs to be probed'

"The revelation by Achuthanandan should be probed by an efficient agency...," KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala told reporters on the sidelines of a function.

In an interview to a Malayalam TV channel, Achuthanandan had alleged he was dropped from CPI(M) politburo a few years back for speaking the truth about a corruption case in which party state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was facing an inquiry.

The veteran leader said he had told the politburo that he could only stand by the truth and not by the party's official line as it was a fabricated case.

Achuthanandan was referring to his removal from CPI(M)'s apex body when he was Chief Minister in the context of charges brought against Vijayan pertaining to a contract awarded to Canadian company SNC Lavalin to renovate three power stations in Kerala, when the latter was electricity minister in 1997.

 

"How could Vijayan become an accused in the case if there was nothing irregular in the case...The contention in the CBI report that he has not made any monetary advantage is supported only by the statement of a witness," he had said in the programme.