By IANS,
Kochi : The Kerala High Court Thursday slammed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its slow probe into a corruption case involving Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary.
A division bench of the court led by Chief Justice H.L. Duttu was hearing a plea from the CBI for extension of six more months to finish the probe into the case of controversial grant of contracts to a Canadian firm for modernisation of hydro-electric plants nine years ago.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India had found irregularities in the grant of contract to SNC Lavalin of Canada for the renovation and modernisation of Pallivassal, Chengulam, and Panniyar Hydro Electric Projects in Idukki district.
Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI-M state secretary, as the then electricity minister in 1997 had awarded the contract to SNC Lavlin. The Kerala High Court Jan 16, 2007 ordered a CBI probe into the issue.
The court Thursday said the investigation agency was earlier given an extension of six months, which ended Thursday. The CBI was asked to hand over the case diary before Tuesday.
The court came down heavily on the CBI asking the investigating officers if they were waiting for the elections to finish the probe.
“If this is the way the CBI handles cases whom should the people believe,” the court said.
The CBI early this year had questioned Vijayan.