The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday filed a report at the CBI court here exonerating the CPI(M) state secretary, Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, and the Assembly Speaker, Mr G. Karthikeyan, from charges of making undue financial advantages from KSEB’s deal with Canadian firm, SNC Lavalin. Both of them were former power ministers.
CBI sources clarified that though the further investigation could not find any evidence of Mr Vijayan making undue pecuniary advantages, the charges of criminal conspiracy framed against him in the initial chargesheet of June 2009 still remain.
The court on Monday issued notice to all the accused, including Mr Vijayan, to appear on April 10. The court also issued warrant to the sixth-accused and senior vice-president of SNC Lavalin, Mr Klaus Trindel. Summons is issued to SNC Lavalin also.
The further investigation conducted by the CBI Chennai unit additional superintendent of police, Mr Y. Harikumar, also exonerated the former member (electricity) of KSEB, Mr R. Gopalakrishnan, from the allegations.
Mr V. Deepak Kumar of Chennai and Crime magazine editor, Mr T.P. Nanda Kumar, had alleged that Mr Vijayan and Mr Karthikeyan received pecuniary gains worth several crores from former director of SNC Lavalin, Mr Dileep Rahulan for extending undue favours with regard to the contract for the renovation and modernisation of Pallivasal, Shengulam and Panniar Hydro Electric projects.
Mr Deepak Kumar had even alleged that Mr Vijayan received `2 crores from Mr Rahulan in his presence.
“The allegations by Mr Nanda Kumar and Mr Deepak Kumar were not corroborated by any material evidence through documents or credible witnesses,” said the CBI report.