Speed up Edamalayar graft case: VS in SC

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday...

Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan approached the Supreme Court on Tuesday,seeking an early hearing in a long-pending appeal in a corruption case involving a former state minister,making it clear that his fight against corruption will continue.

Significantly,the plea came only two days after the CPM penalised Achuthanandan for indiscipline. He had refused to toe the party line that there is no corruption in the SNC-Lavalin case,where Pinarayi Vijayan figures among the accused.

The application was filed by the Chief Minister in Edamalayar case where former state power minister R Balakrishna Pillai was held guilty of corruption with regard to irregularities in the construction of a hydro-electric project.

Story continues below this ad

Besides Edamalayar case where Pillai was convicted by the trial court,the Chief Minister has been fighting for justice in other corruption cases too,notably the Palmoil case,involving former chief minister and veteran Congress leader K Karunakaran,and the Brahamapuram case wherein C V Padmarajan,former minister and a Congress leader,faces trial.

The application demanding an early disposal of the appeal is likely to be mentioned before the apex court in a couple of days as the appeal against the High Court verdict has been pending for over three years. The SC on March 27,2006 had granted leave and admitted the appeal against the High Court judgment for final disposal, said Deepak Prakash,the advocate who filed the application on behalf of the 85-year-old Marxist leader.

Calling himself a public-spirited person whos a crusader against corruption,Achuthanandan submitted that since the accused in the Edamalayar case were still enjoying positions of authority in public,the delay in justice was being taken as an advantage by the alleged culprits.

Highlighting urgency to dispose of the appeal expeditiously,the CM has sought listing of the matter at the earliest or else he feared it shall cause irreparable loss and injury to the appellant (Achuthanandan).

Story continues below this ad

The multi-purpose Edamalayar Hydro Electric Power Project was conceived and completed in 1985. However,public servants including Pillai were found guilty of indulging in corruption and floundering public money besides causing huge losses to the exchequer in awarding and commissioning of the said project.

While the trial court convicted Pillai and few others for corruption and other penal charges under the IPC,the Kerala HC reversed the order and acquitted all the accused on October 31,2003.

Achuthanandan,the then Leader of Opposition,challenged the decision before the apex court in 2005. Since then,the appeal has been pending for final disposal.