From rxpgnews.com
'CBI probe demand in SNC Lavlin contract to trap Antony'
By IANS,
Jan 8, 2007 - 11:14:56 PM
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 - Kerala Congress chief Ramesh Chennithala's demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation - probe into the award of a contract to a Canadian firm a decade ago was aimed at trapping Defence Minister A.K. Antony, State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Monday.
'You all know that the SNC Lavlin contract was first inked by Antony's government in 1995-96. Chennithala wants to implicate him in that case,' Balakrishnan told reporters here.
SNC Lavlin had entered into an agreement for modernisation of three hydroelectric projects of the Kerala State Electricity Board. The final contract was inked in 1997 by then power minister Pinnarayi Vijayan, currently state secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India -.
A Comptroller and Auditor General of India - report found deviations from the prescribed procedures in the selection of the projects and in the award of the contract.
'In 2004 we had said in the assembly that we were prepared for any probe and it was the Oommen Chandy government which announced a vigilance probe,' said Balakrishnan.
'They - could have gone for a CBI probe then but they did not do it. Now they want a CBI probe and Chennithala has other intentions,' he added.
The Kerala High Court, acting on a number of petitions, is to give its final verdict soon whether there should be a CBI probe into the matter.
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