Supreme Court posts SNC-Lavalin case for hearing on September 12

SC lists SNC Lavalin corruption case appeals against discharge of Kerala CM for Sept 12 hearing. CBI, accused seek parity of treatment. Appeals filed since Jan 2018. SC cautioned CBI to bolster appeal with strong arguments. Case concerns Rs. 86.25 cr loss in KSEB contract with Lavalin. CM discharged by trial court, Kerala HC. CBI argued decision not correct. SC to hear case on Sept 12.

The Supreme Court on July 18 listed the appeals in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case against the discharge of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for hearing on September 12.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta listed the case in September as Justice Kant is part of a Constitution Bench scheduled to begin hearing the challenge against the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir from August 2.

The adjournment on Tuesday was sought as Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, was engaged in another court.

The separate appeals, filed by the CBI and some of the accused who were not discharged in the Lavalin case, had seen repeated adjournments since January 2018.

When the case came up previously in April, Justice C.T. Ravikumar had recused himself.

In an earlier hearing, the apex court had cautioned the CBI that it would need to bolster its appeal against Mr. Vijayan with “very strong arguments” as two courts — trial court and the Kerala High Court — had already discharged him of any wrong-doing.

Mr. Vijayan was discharged as an accused by both the Special Court, CBI, in Thiruvananthapuram, and the Kerala High Court.