The Weekend Leader - SC asks CBI chief to respond to charges of meeting 2G accused

SC asks CBI chief to respond to charges of meeting 2G accused

New Delhi

08-September-2014

The Supreme Court Monday asked CBI director Ranjit Sinha to respond to allegations by NGO CPIL that he has been frequently meeting those accused in the 2G case and others being probed by the investigating agency.

A bench of Chief Justice-designate Justice H.L. Dattu and Justice S.A.Bobde, while giving a week's time to the CBI director to respond to the allegations, said they want a fair trial in the 2G cases and would deal with it if there was some derailment of the trial.

Saying that "heavens will not fall" if the trial in 2G spectrum cases waited for a week, the court said: "The averments are very serious. We want a fair trial. We are monitoring the trial. If we feel that there is a derailment of the case, then we'll have to deal with it."

NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) has urged the court to make the CBI director stay away from the investigation into 2G spectrum scam cases and their trial by the special court that is holding day-to-day hearing of the matter.

At the outset of the hearing, when senior counsel Vikas Singh, appearing for Sinha, said there was no basis for the allegations made by CPIL, the court said it would give him the opportunity to have his say.

It asked him if he would like to argue his case or give a written submission. Initially Vikas Singh preferred to argue his case but as the court said it did not have sufficient time, he said he would file a written submission.

The court also asked petitioner, advocate Kamini Jaiswal to respond to the CBI's plea that her affidavit alleging acts of wrongdoing by Sinha were based on false statements or mis-statements. The investigation agency, which has accused Jaiswal of perjury, has sought direction for the registration of an FIR against her.

In the meantime, counsel Prashant Bhushan handed over to the court what he described as an original copy of the entry register showing accused in the 2G and other cases being probed by the agency visiting the residence of the CBI director.

Bhushan told the court that some people who declined to identify themselves, came to his residence Sunday night and left the entry register that was being maintained at the 2 Janpath residence of the CBI director. He said that the strangers feared that entry register may be destroyed.

Bhushan handed over the register, which was taken into its custody by the court and put in a sealed cover. He also submitted the names of the security and other staff members at the CBI chief's residence. - IANS
 



Milky Mist Cheese