NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has decided to hear the final arguments in the Lavalin case from May 1. The date was decided after the CBI stated that they were ready for the hearing on any day. While hearing the case yesterday, the bench comprising justices Suryakant and KV Viswanathan initially said that the case could be heard on July 10. If it is listed on Wednesday, it can be heard continuously on the next day. May 17 to July 7 is summer vacation.

However, Additional Solicitor General VS Raju, appearing for the CBI, took the position that the hearing should be held next month. When the court said that the case would be posted on May 8 as it would have to be heard continuously, the CBI also agreed that it could be done in April or May. There are many holidays in March and April. The hearing should be held for at least two consecutive days. So the court decided to consider it on May 1. CBI and other parties also accepted. Former Energy Secretary K Mohanachandran has been given time to submit a new advocacy.

The appeal filed by the CBI challenging the High Court's acquittal of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Energy Secretary K Mohanachandran and former Joint Secretary A Francis is before the Supreme Court. Former KSEB officials R Sivadas, Kasthuriranga Iyer and KG Rajasekaran have also filed a petition seeking their exclusion from the list of accused.

CBI is not interested: VM Sudheeran

Congress leader VM Sudhiran's lawyer told the court that the case has been in the Supreme Court since 2017 and has been adjourned more than 30 times. The lawyer said that the CBI is not interested and objected to the long run of the final argument. The court asked in return whether they were saying that they had adopted a liberal approach. The CBI denied the allegation. Sudheeran's plea to be made a party will not be considered along with the main case on May 1. Adv Raghenth Basant, appearing for KG Rajasekar, opposed Sudheeran's plea. With this, it was decided to consider it separately on May 7.

Considering for the 31st time

The case was first listed in the Supreme Court on October 27, 2017. The case was heard yesterday for the 31st time. Seven times the lawyers demanded that the case be considered urgently.