The Supreme Court on Thursday refused an NGO’s plea to order a CBI probe into the death of Kalikho Pul, former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, in August 2016.
A Bench led by Justice U.U. Lalit asked Social Vigilance Team, represented by senior advocate Siddharth Dave, about its locus standi to file a writ petition.
“You are not even aware of the stage of probe. How can an Article 32 petition be entertained here?” Justice Lalit asked Mr. Dave.
Justice Lalit said Pul took his own life four years ago.
“You made a representation a year later. You have no relationship with him... Either you withdraw or we will dismiss this petition,” Justice Lalit said.
Mr. Dave asked the Bench to give him liberty to approach the High Court.
“We will only say you can seek appropriate remedy as is open in law. We grant you liberty to withdraw the present plea,” Justice Lalit replied.
Justice Lalit said he was part of the Bench which had dealt with a letter, which was later converted into a judicial petition, written to the court by Pul’s wife in 2017.
Ms. Dangwimsai Pul wanted a fair probe into an alleged 60-page suicide note left by her husband. The note had blamed several political leaders and then Supreme Court judges. It had alleged corruption.
She had however withdrawn her petition after she was given liberty to approach the President. She had at that point of time also written to then Vice-President Hamid Ansari for an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team into the contents of the suicide note.
Mr. Dave on Thursday said nothing had happened after she had approached the President.
Pul became the Chief Minister in February 2016 with the help of rebel Congress leaders and the BJP.
However, a Constitution Bench quashed the President’s rule in the State, compelling him to step down as Chief Minister. On August 9, 2016, he was found dead.
