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No Cabinet decision for CBI probe in Lavalin case: affidavit

Staff Reporter

Kochi: The former United Democratic Front Government had taken the decision to hand over the SNC Lavalin case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) without assigning any reason. The issue was not on the agenda for the Cabinet meeting held on the day when the Assembly elections were announced, according to an affidavit filed by the Left Democratic Front Government before the High Court.

The affidavit, filed in response to a writ petition seeking a CBI probe in the SNC Lavalin case, said the circumstances or the reasons that prompted the then Council of Ministers to decide the issue was "not available on the file. No note was placed before the Cabinet. The decision was taken outside the agenda."

The affidavit pointed out that it was less than a month ago that the then Government had taken a stand that there was no need to entrust the investigation to the CBI. The official stand was mentioned in an affidavit filed by the then Government in response to a writ petition. The reason for a sudden change of opinion was not revealed from records. The decision to entrust the investigation to the CBI was taken on March 1, 2006, the date on which the Election Commission had announced the Assembly elections.

The affidavit noted that when the then Government took a decision to hand over the investigation to the CBI, the letter dated March 6, 2006 sent by the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau regarding registration of cases was not before the Cabinet.

A scrutiny of relevant files had revealed that the Government had no valid reason to hand over the case to the CBI, the affidavit said.

The affidavit contended that the Union Government had not issued a notification handing over the investigation to the CBI.

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