CBI can probe NGO secy in 2G issue: SC
2 Nov 2012 12:43 AM GMT
The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the CBI is free to proceed with its investigation against Anil Kumar, secretary of NGO Telecom Watchgdog, for allegedly interfering with the probe in the 2G spectrum case by giving a 'virtual clean chit' to former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
The apex court termed as 'highly improper' the conduct of Kumar. whose NGO had filed a joint petition with others against Maran and subsequently written a letter to the CBI and published an article in a magazine giving a clean chit to Maran.
'We can clarify that this letter should not in any way affect the investigation and if you (CBI) think that this man has done something wrong, you can proceed against him in accordance with the law,' a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said.
The bench said, 'Writing a letter to the CBI after filing the petition was highly improper and this letter deserves to be thrown in the dustbin.' The bench made it clear that 'backing out' of one of the petitioners or his coming out in support of the former minister should not affect the investigation.
'How does the change of stand affect the CBI investigation?' the bench asked the CBI and referred to the submission of advocate Prashant Bhushan that the agency was not taking any action against Maran, who has been accused by the agency of 'coercing' a Chennai-based promoter to sell his stakes in Aircel to Malaysian firm Axis in 2006.
The apex court termed as 'highly improper' the conduct of Kumar. whose NGO had filed a joint petition with others against Maran and subsequently written a letter to the CBI and published an article in a magazine giving a clean chit to Maran.
'We can clarify that this letter should not in any way affect the investigation and if you (CBI) think that this man has done something wrong, you can proceed against him in accordance with the law,' a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishnan said.
The bench said, 'Writing a letter to the CBI after filing the petition was highly improper and this letter deserves to be thrown in the dustbin.' The bench made it clear that 'backing out' of one of the petitioners or his coming out in support of the former minister should not affect the investigation.
'How does the change of stand affect the CBI investigation?' the bench asked the CBI and referred to the submission of advocate Prashant Bhushan that the agency was not taking any action against Maran, who has been accused by the agency of 'coercing' a Chennai-based promoter to sell his stakes in Aircel to Malaysian firm Axis in 2006.
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