Entrusting case to Asaf Ali puzzling, says Sreemathy

: P.K. Sreemathy, MP, has alleged that the move to entrust Director General of Prosecutions (DGP) T. Asaf Ali to appear in the Supreme Court to hear the bail plea of the accused in the Suryanelli rape case, instead of the senior advocate appointed earlier, was to help the accused.

Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, Ms. Sreemathy alleged that as the convicted accused in the case included some Congress men, the government’s appointment of the DGP, a former Congress leader, remained puzzling. The government owed an explanation about the decision to take away the case file from the senior advocate and to give it to the DGP, who has no previous experience in the Supreme Court, she said. She further alleged that Mr. Asaf Ali failed to oppose certain comments from the judge in the apex court on Wednesday that are unfortunate and deplorable.DGP’s rejoinder

The DGP said the MP’s allegation was baseless, malicious and politically motivated. He said that he appeared in the apex court to oppose the bail application of the 21 accused. The court dismissed the appeal. The senior advocate would appear only during the final hearing of the case, which was posted for March 15, 2016, he told

The Hindu over the phone.