When the CBI withdrew the Red Corner Notice issued against Mr.Ottovio Quottrrochi under the advice of Attorney General Mr. Milan Banerjee, all hell broke loose. Predictably Leftists reacted with as much vehemence as say Arun jaitely who went abroad under VP Singh dispensation as Attorney General but could do simply nothing to demystify the alleged kickbacks. BJP supporters like Gurumurthi have called PM Manmohan singh names and have alleged that Congress party had developed cold feet over electoral verdict forgetting the fact that they had all the powers at their command for 6 long years to rein in Mr. Q the alleged beneficiary. We can excuse BJP for their nonchalance while in power for they too had their share of scams starting from coffingate to Denel. Now the high moral pitch of Karat and Company blows over when they find the predicament of one of their comrades the all powerful Pinarayi Vijayan who is named an accused in the Lovalin deal causing pecuniary loss to the exchequer requiring a nod from the Advo cate General for prosecution by CBI. Comrade Achuthanandan asked the fellow comrades as to whether it will not be a fitting reply to face trial and prove innocence rather than taking shelter under procedural lapses.VS was shouted down to toe the party line.

Two things baffle me the most. The alleged pecuniary loss happened when Pinarayi was Kerala's Electricity Minister. When he has demitted office, he loses the constitutional immunity from prosection. He is just another ordinary man who can be prosecuted and no sanction is necessary. The Kerala High Court thought otherwise when it sought the opinion of the Governor who again did not exercise his constitutional right as did Dr.Channa Reddy who gave permission to prosecute Jayalalitha on a petition by Dr. Subramanian Swamy. The Governor is not bound to act on the advice of the cabinet but he forwarded it to the CM. The CM passed the buck to Advocate General while privately he maintained that the Secretary needs to be interrogated just as Balakrishna Pillai was in the Edamalayar case of power theft. Pillai was also a Minister but unfortunatley did not have the clout of Vijayan. He faced the prosecution and ultimately came out triumphant.

Now the Karat and his company could have simply asked Vijayan to face the enquiry and prove his innocence. They dare not do it. It is here they stand exposed. VS Achuthanandan alone has come unscathed in this ugly episode.