The Uttarakhand high court on Friday refused to quash the ongoing CBI probe into the sting operation against Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who is shown in the video purportedly negotiating a deal to buy the support of rebel Congress MLAs.
Justice Sarvesh Kumar Gupta of the High Court said that quashing the CBI probe into the sting CD at this stage was not possible. Rawat has in his petition sought quashing of the probe.
The CBI had sent summons to Rawat, asking him to appear before it on May 9. However the Chief Minister did not appear before it, citing medical reasons.
The High Court has asked the Chief Minister to cooperate in the investigations and has asked the CBI to show regard towards the office of the CM. The High Court has set May 31 as the next date of hearing.
The High Court also questioned the authority of the state cabinet which had withdrawn a notification recommending CBI probe into the sting CD soon after Rawat was reinstated in office.