Supreme Court once again adjourns hearing of Lavalin case

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has once again adjourned the hearing of the SNC Lavalin case. The court will consider the final hearing in the case on May 1. This is the 38th time that the case has been adjourned.

Appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju requested the Supreme Court to consider the case urgently. He requested the court to hear the case in the months of March and April. Following this, the bench headed by Justice Suryakant adjourned the case to May 1.

The SNC Lavalin case pertains to a loss of Rs 374 crore in the Kerala State Electricity Board's (KSEB) contract with the Canadian-based SNC Lavalin for the renovation and modernisation of Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniar hydroelectric projects in Idukki district in 1996 when Vijayan was the state power minister in the cabinet of E.K. Nayanar.

Following the High Court verdict exonerating CM Vijayan in the case, the CBI in December 2017 approached the Supreme Court, contending that he should face trial in the case. On January 11, 2018, the Supreme Court had stayed the High Court order that three officials, including Kasturi Ranga Iyer, should face trial. From 27 August 2020, the case is under the consideration of the new bench of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing of the case several times at the request of the CBI.