UDF, BJP raise doubts, pin hopes on Supreme Court

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leaders are not convinced of the innocence of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan even after the high court upholding the lower court decision to acquit him without trial.

While the Congress saw flaws in it, the BJP asked the CBI to file an appeal against the verdict.

Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here on Wednesday that it was not possible for three persons alone to finalise an international agreement. 
"Let the Supreme Court make its decision," Mr Chennithala said.

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said the High Court had found that there was corruption involved in the deal with the Canadians and corruption cannot be seen as one that involving only officials. 

"Making officials scapegoats will create a wrong precedence," Mr Rajasekharan said.

"The verdict exonerating Mr Vijayan was only technical. The detailed trail producing documents have not happened on the court. Hence, the CBI should go in for an appeal."

He also blamed the Congress for the exoneration.  "Their attempt to exempt former electricity ministers G. Karthikeyan and Kadavoor Sivadasan created loopholes for Mr Vijayan to escape," he said. "Mr Vijayan cannot stay away from the moral obligation over the Lavlin agreement."