Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) Pinarayi Vijayan who was exonerated in the much hyped SNC Lavalin Case expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who staunchly stood with him while he was suffering a multi pronged attack.
Interacting with the media in Thiruvananthapuram an hour after the judgment he said that “Many people believed that the case can be dragged on indefinitely… and keep the Party in the shadow of suspicion. The attack was outright political and not personal”.
Pinarayi expressed his gratitude towards Justice V R Krishna Iyer, Prof. M K Sanu, late Advocates Kelu Nambiar and G Janardana Kurup. Iyer once had said that the CBI has been misused in the case. People like the late Dr. Sukumar Azhikode also criticized the UDF’s use of the CBI for political vendetta. Pinarayi also recalled that even KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala once said that he does not believe Pinarayi Vijayan is guilty, while former PCC president K Muralidharan had stated that the case is an attempt to divert the attention of the people.
Vijayan warned against the use of money power to produce false witnesses and launch a slander campaign. This culture is not good for the state, he said. This would discourage people from taking initiatives for the development of the state he added.
Pinarayi said that when the case was registered, the CPI(M) said that it would face the case politically and legally. “I would like to say with all humility, that today’s judgment justifies this stand”.
Thiruvananthapuram; November 5, 2012