Kaumudi Online
August 2, 2005

The government has decided to constitute a Vigilance special team to complete the probe into the SNC-Lavalin corruption case involving CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan.

According to a statement from the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) here on Monday, the special team was being constituted as per the directive of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The special team would be completing the investigation in six months.

Vigilance sources said that the members of the team were not yet decided. Kottayam Vigilance SP M R Prathapan is at present investigating the case. The government decided to constitute the special team in wake of the allegation that there was delay in the Vigilance probe. This was following reports that the Comptroller and Auditor-General had pointed out irregularities in the project which pertained to the contract given to the Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin for renovation of the Pallivasal, Shengulam and Panniyar hydro-electric projects.