SC adjourns hearing of Lavalin case yet again

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of SNC Lavalin case yet again. The case, which came up for consideration while only 20 minutes were left before the end of court hours, has been adjourned to February 6, 2023.  

While a junior of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who represents the CBI, requested for a passover, the court refused to do so. Following this, the bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyyan adjourned the case.

The decade-old case, which placed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a tough spot in the past, has been listed more than 30 times in four benches of the apex court in six years so far.

The case pertains to awarding a contract to a Canadian company SNC Lavalin for the renovation of three hydel projects - Chengulam, Pallivasal and Panniyar - when Pinarayi Vijayan was the power minister in then EK Nayanar cabinet between 1996 and 1998. The contract had allegedly led to a loss of Rs 86.25 crore.