CPI-M to fight Lavalin case in court

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said it will fight corruption charges against Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan legally.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Friday said it will fight corruption charges against Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan legally.

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The CPI-M issued a statement after a meeting of the 15-member state secretariat Thiruvananthapuram. "We have no fear to tackle the case in the court and Vijayan can prove his innocence," the release read.

Vijayan has been named an accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for giving a tender to renovate two hydel-power projects to a Canadian company SNC Lavalin when he was the state power minister 12 years ago.

"The party is supremely confident and certain that Vijayan will come out unscathed once the case is fought in the court," it added.

The statement also said that the party will take "strict action against against those who try to tarnish the party (image) and its directive".

A CPI-M source told IANS on condition of anonymity said that Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, also present at the meeting, came under fire from his party colleagues for endorsing Governor RS Gavai's decision to give the nod to CBI for Vijayan's prosecution.

Gavai had Sunday given the go-ahead to CBI to prosecute Vijayan. While state Home Minister
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and ruling Left Democratic Front convenor Vaikom Viswan hit out at governor for his decision which they alleged was motivated by political interests, Achuthanandan maintained he had done nothing wrong.

The source said that chief minister told the state secretariat that he will explain his stand when the CPI-M politburo meets shortly.