No need to implead former ministers in writ on Lavalin deal:Govt

Kochi, Mar 9 (UNI) The Kerala government today submitted before the High Court that it was not necessary to implead former Electricity Ministers in the writ petition seeking a CBI investigation into the SNC Lavalin deal.

Advocate General (AG) M Ratnasingh stated that in view of the government's decision to entrust the investigation of the SNC Lavalin case to the CBI, the prayer to implead three former Electricity Ministers, including CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, in the writ petition had become immaterial.

In view of the submission of the AG, the Court directed the state government to file a statement regarding its stance on an enquiry into the Brahmapuram deal in which former minister C V Padmarajan is allegedly involved.

The AG made his submission while a Division Bench, comprising Justice J B Koshy and Justice K P Balachandran, was considering a petition filed by Mr T P Nandakumar, seeking to implead former Electricity Ministers Pinarayi Vijayan, Kadavoor Sivadasan and G Karthikeyan in the proceedings.

UNI XR ARC VD VC2016