Graft case: CBI special court dismisses petition against AK Antony

The CBI special court here today dismissed a petition filed by CPI(M) Kerala secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, an accused in the Rs100-crore graft case, seeking a direction to CBI to examine Union defence minister AK Antony in the case.

Dismissing the petition, CBI special court judge KP Jothindranath said the court cannot interfere in the case. CBI had opposed the petition saying since the chargesheet had been laid in the case, it cannot be reopened.

Vijayan's counsel MK Damodaran, who is a former Advocate General, had argued that all relevant documents should be looked into by the investigating officer for a 'transparent' investigation. The investigating officer should look at all material documents till 2005 relating to the case, he said.

The case relates to the alleged corruption in the award of contract to SNC Lavalin, the Canadian company, for renovation of three hydel project in 1998 when Vijayan was the power minister.

According to Vijayan, who is the seventh accused in the case, Antony was the chief minister till May 1996 and G Karthikeyan was power minister then. The contract, including the supply of materials and consultancy was concluded on February 24, 1996 during the tenure of Karthikeyan.