CPI-M secy's plea to split graft case posted to Mar 18

The Kerala High Court today posted to March 18 CPI-M state Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan's petition seeking to split a case relating to alleged irregularities in the award of a contract to a Canadian firm in 1996 for renovation of three hydel projects.
Justice C T Ravikumar adjourned the case and directed the registrar to number the same and posted it for Monday.
A former power minister, Vijayan is an accused in the case relating to the award of a contract by Kerala State Electricity Board to SNC Lavalin in 1996 for renovation of three hydel projects in the state, which caused a loss of over Rs 375 crore to the exchequer.

He submitted that the case was hanging like a 'Damocles sword' on his head and delay in the trial was causing serious hardships to him.
Vijayan contended that due to the non-appearance of co-accused Lavalin company and its Vice President Claus Trendl the case was being indefinitely delayed.
Earlier, the CBI special court at Thiruvananthapuram had turned down his request for splitting the case.