Notify CBI probe into Batcha death: court

April 02, 2011 03:27 am | Updated November 17, 2021 05:28 am IST - New Delhi:

With the Central Bureau of Investigation expressing its willingness to take over the probe into the death of Sadiq Batcha, a close aide of the 2G spectrum case accused and former Communications Minister, A. Raja, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to issue the necessary notification.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, told a Bench that the Tamil Nadu government had transferred the case to the CBI but the Centre was yet to issue a notification entrusting the case to it.

Only after the Centre issued the notification, could the CBI formally take over the case.

The court also could pass an order directing a CBI probe, counsel said.

The Bench, consisting of Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Ganguly, was hearing an application filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation seeking a CBI probe into the mysterious death of Batcha on March 16.

He was found hanging in his house in Chennai.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan pleaded for a CBI probe, pointing out that already crucial time was lost in the investigation. Batcha was managing director of Greenhouse Promoters, which the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate suspected was a front organisation for Mr. Raja.

The Bench then asked Additional Solicitor-General Indira Jaising to take instructions from the Centre and inform it of the issuance of a notification for transferring the case to the CBI by April 4.

When Justice Singhvi asked Mr. Venugopal whether the CBI would file the charge sheet in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case on April 2 as stated by him on March 29, counsel said it would be done.

Prosecutor for 2G case

On the appointment of a public prosecutor to handle the 2G case before the special court, he said senior advocate Uday U. Lalit, who had tremendous experience in criminal law, had agreed to head the team of prosecutors. However, Ms. Jaising said she would take instructions in this regard and the court posted the matter to April 5.

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