HC asks CBI whether bizman Babu Sana needed for probe

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday directed the CBI to inform it whether a businessman against whom a look out circular (LOC) was issued in connection with a corruption case, involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi and the agency's ex-director A P Singh, was required for further investigation.

Justice Najmi Waziri also asked the CBI the purpose of issuing LOC against Satish Babu Sana while observing that there cannot be an open LOC like this and the agency has to disclose what it wants to do.

"You seek instructions as to what you want. Find out whether he is required for any further investigation," the court told CBI's counsel Sanjeev Bhandari.

The court was hearing a plea by Sana seeking the quashing of an LOC issued against him despite the fact that he was appearing before the CBI every time he was summoned for questioning in the case.

Senior advocates Salman Khurshid and Mohit Mathur, representing Sana, submitted that he has appeared before CBI in response to the notices a number of times and he has not been called for questioning for last one year.

They said there was no complaint that the businessman was not cooperating in the investigation, and he was not an accused in the case.

Bhandari contended that Sana's role has come up in the case and the purpose of issuing LOC against him was that he should not leave the country.

He claimed that Sana was required for further investigation and urged the court to direct him to give details of his assets and properties as he wanted to go abroad where he has business.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on February 28, asking Sana to place on record the details of his unencumbered assets.