Breaking: Kerala HC Upholds The Discharge Of Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan In SNC Lavlin Case [Read Judgment]

Kerala High Court upheld the Judgment of Trial Court discharging Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in SNC Lavlin Case.

But the High Court partially allowed the CBI' revision petition against the Judgment of Trial Court in SNC Lavlin Case as far as Accused numbers Two to Five are concerned. Court upheld the order of discharge against Accused numbers 1, 7 and 8.

The High Court accepted the argument of Senior Advocate Harish Salve that CBI adopted a pick-and-choose method to make out a case against Pinarayi Vijayan

Justice Ubaid delivered the Judgment in a revision petition filed by CBI against the Judgment of Special CBI Court by which the Court had discharged Pinrayi Vijayan and others in the Case.

The Bench had reserved its Judgment in April, 2017. Senior Advocate Harish Salve and MK Damodaran appeared for Pinarayi Vijayan in the case. Additional Solicitor General (south zone) K.M. Nataraj argued for CBI.

According to CBI, Pinarayi Vijayan while holding the post of Electricity Minister conspired together with other accused to award a contract for supplying the materials for the renovation of  Pallivasal, Sengulam, and Panniar hydroelectric projects to SNC-Lavalin for an exorbitant amount without inviting tenders.

The trial Court discharged the accused on the ground that CBI could not prove that the accused had gained “pecuniary advantage” while awarding the contract to SNC-Lavalin.

Supporting the Trial Court Judgment, Senior Advocate Harish Salve argued before the High Court that prosecution adopted a pick-and-choose method to make out a case against Pinarayi Vijayan but miserably failed to prove that any of the accused in the case made unlawful gain in SNC Lavalin deal.