Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala has accused the Achuthanandan Government of filing a false affidavit before the High Court in the SNC Lavalin case.

Alleging that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan was protecting corrupt party men who were involved in the deal that cost huge loss to the State, Mr. Chennithala said the Government affidavit that the Panniyar-Shengulam- Pallivasal renovation work was awarded to SNC Lavalin as per the Balanandan Committee report was a `false' statement. The committee report, a public document, recommended repair works besides involving the BHEL in the project.

Another important point, according to Mr. Chennithala, was the role of the incumbent Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the SNC Lavalin deal in his capacity as the non-governmental representative on the Kerala State Electricity Board when the decision was taken. The deal could not have been pulled off without Mr. Balakrishnan's involvement.

He alleged that Mr. Balakrishnan, as Home Minister, was trying to scuttle the CBI probe into the deal. Similarly, Siddharta Menon, who now heads the committee for KSEB's reconstitution, had signed the contract as board Chairman.

He said the CPI(M) politburo, which is used to intervening in all issues relating to the party in Kerala, was totally silent on the SNC Lavalin case.

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