Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing In SNC Lavalin Case At CBI's Request; Posts To September

The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the appeals filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the discharge of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other accused in the SNC Lavalin Case to September 12.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta adjourned the hearing following a request made on behalf of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represents the CBI. Though the CBI sought for posting to next week, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Pinarayi Vijayan, said that he has some difficulty next week. The bench then decided to post the matter in September as Justice Surya Kant will be a part of the Constitution Bench hearing in the Article 370 case in August.

Pointing out that the High Court has discharged the accused and Section 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act was repealed after 2018 amendment, Salve asked what was the point in proceeding with the CBI's appeal. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj however replied that there are issues which are to be considered by the Court. Salve then said that he is ready to argue today itself.

The case is related to alleged corruption in the contract given to Canadian company SNC Lavalin for the renovation of hydro-electric projects in Kerala, when Pinarayi Vijayan was the electricity minister in 1996-98.

In November 2013, the Special CBI Court at Thiruvanathapuram discharged Pinarayi Vijayan and few other officials who were chargesheeted in the case.

Earlier the matter was before a division bench of Justice M R Shah and Justice C T Ravikumar. However, Justice C T Ravikumar, a former judge of the Kerala High Court, recused himself as he was part of the hearing before the Kerala High Court.

 Case Title: Kasthuri Ranga v. State Rep. By Addl. Superintendent Of Police CBI And Ors. SLP(Crl) No. 7801/2017 and connected cases.