In an unexpected move, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Anand Grover on Wednesday withdrew his petition in the Supreme Court challenging the 2G Special Court’s order to release attached assets worth ₹742.58 crore in the Aircel Maxis case following the discharge of all the accused, including the Maran brothers, on February 2.
“In view of what Your Lordships said last time, I withdraw my plea,” Mr. Grover submitted before a Bench of Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and Justices N.V. Ramana and D.Y. Chandrachud.
“We may say a lot of things... but if you want to withdraw, well so be it,” Chief Justice Khehar reacted.
In the previous hearing, the Bench had treated Mr. Grover’s submissions alleging procedural flaws in the discharge order and challenge against the release of the attached property with some scepticism. “The simple logic is that this money was found to be not part of any money laundering. So when there is no money, where is the laundering? If ₹742.58 crore is not part of any crime, then there is no money laundering,” Justice Khehar had observed orally. “It was given in total consideration. That this is not a considered order is wrong. We don’t agree on it,” the Chief Justice had added.
‘Too trivial’
The court had further said objections raised by Mr. Grover against the Special Court not having ordered extension of the bail bonds of the discharged accused was “too trivial.” “Why did you come to us with this? You should have gone to the Special Court,” Chief Justice Khehar had observed.
In response, Mr. Grover had referred to orders passed by the apex court in 2011 that grievance against orders passed by the 2G Special Court should be addressed to the Supreme Court, which was monitoring the investigation in the 2G spectrum scam cases.
