SC turns down VS’ plea against Pillai’s release

Tuesday, December 13, 2011: The Supreme Court today disagreed to consider the petition filed by Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan against the release of former minister and Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai, who was jailed in Idamalayar corruption case.
Turning down the plea the Court informed that Achuthanandan could approach the Kerala High Court in the issue. The plea was heard by a SC constitution bench comprising of Justice Sadasivam and B S Chauhan who had earlier sentenced Pillai to one year’s rigorous imprisonment in the graft case.
According to the plea the UDF government had allegedly violated prison rules while granting remission to Pillai. Pillai was released along with 137 other prisoners through a government remission order on State Formation day on November 1.
The Supreme Court had sentenced 78-year-old Pillai in Idamalayar dam corruption case, which dates back to 1980s when he was the power minister in the Congress-led UDF government. Pillai was found guilty of having caused the Kerala State Electricity Board a loss of Rs 2 crore by awarding contracts at inflated rates