Kochi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought sanction from Kerala Governor and Chief Secretary for prosecuting 11 accused, including a former state minister, in the case relating to the award of consultancy and renovation contracts of three hydel projects in Kerala to Canadian firm SNC Lavlin during LDF rule in 1998.
A former electricity minister is among the accused, CBI sources said, but declined to reveal the name.
The process of negotiations of the contracts began during the time of the UDF government headed by A K Antony when G Karthikeyan, who is presently an MLA, was the power minister.
The contract was signed by the LDF government, headed by E K Nayanar in March 1998, when Pinarayi Vijayan, presently CPI(M) state secretary, was the power minister.
As per one of the contract clauses, about Rs 100 crore had been promised by the Canadian firm Lavlin for the development of the Malabar Cancer Center at Thalassery. However, only about Rs 16 crore was given to the center.
The progress report in the case was submitted on Thursday before the High Court and CBI Special court by CBI Chennai unit DYSP, Ashok Kumar, in a sealed cover, ahead of the January 23 deadline set by the High Court to the agency to complete the investigation and file its report.
The 11-year-old politically sensitive case relates to alleged corruption with regard to the award of consultancy and renovation contracts of Panniyar, Shengulam and Pallivasal hydel projects to Canada's biggest engineering firm, SNC Lavlin, which caused a loss of about Rs 374.5 crore to the state exchequer.
CBI standing counsel M V S Namboodiri informed the division bench, comprising Justices A K Basheer and Thomas Joseph, regarding the compliance of the High Court order.
According to CBI sources, investigation has been completed and chargesheet will be filed against the accused after obtaining sanction from the Governor and Chief secretary.
Some officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board are among the accused.
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