The Supreme Court verdict in the disproportionate assets case against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, has sent a “wrong signal” to the people, Supreme Court lawyer and India Against Corruption core committee member Prashant Bhushan, said on Sunday.
At a news conference here, Mr. Bhushan said the CBI’s First Information Report against her was quashed purely on technical grounds. “What kind of signal does this give out to the people?” he wondered.
The court had monitored the investigation for eight years. In 2004, it said the CBI was at liberty to probe Ms. Mayawati, pointed out Mr. Bhushan, who was here to promote the campaign against corruption.
“Pranab faces charges”
Criticising the nomination of Pranab Mukherjee by the Congress as the presidential candidate, he said the former Finance Minister faced four corruption allegations including the Sudan rice deal. The Sudan government had written to the Government of India asking for a probe, but no action was taken.
Asked about a media report that the former Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan, was being considered by the Congress as a possible vice-presidential candidate, Mr. Bhushan said it would be “the joke of the century” if the party did so. Citing acquisition of huge assets by Justice Balakrishnan’s relatives, Mr. Bhushan said he had urged the Prime Minister to look into the issue but Manmohan Singh maintained a “brazen silence” on the corruption allegations.
Mr. Bhushan said India needed a “revolution” to throw out all corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.
He denied infighting in Team Anna, though occasionally there were differences of opinion among members on issues.
