SC rejects Achuthanandan's plea in palmolein case
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Monday dismissed a petition filed by Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan, seeking to arraign Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as an accused in the corruption case relating to import of palmolein oil in 1991-92.
The apex court, however, observed that there will not be any legal hurdle to list Chandy as an accused if any evidence is found against him during the trial in the case.
The Supreme Court had earlier pulled up former Achuthanandan for dragging proceedings in the palmolein case to settle scores with political rivals.
On Sunday, Achuthanandan had filed his response to the Supreme Court in the palmolein graft case, saying that he joined the case as a people's representative and not for any political gains.
The case related to import of palm oil during 1991-92 at 'inflated' price by the then Congress government headed by late K Karunakaran, from a Malaysian firm, allegedly causing a loss of Rs 2.33 crore to the state exchequer.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was the Finance Minister then.
