Date:27/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/27/stories/2007102754271500.htm

National

CBI: preliminary probe against Mulayam over

Legal Correspondent

Files affidavit in apex court

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday filed in the Supreme Court an affidavit saying it had completed a preliminary enquiry (PE) against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav; his sons Akhilesh Yadav, MP, and Prateek Yadav; and Dimple Yadav, wife of Mr. Akhilesh Yadav, into the allegations of their amassing assets disproportionate to the known sources of their income.

Acting on a public interest litigation petition from Vishwanath Chaturvedi, the court in March this year directed the CBI to conduct the PE into their assets and after scrutinising the material, if a case was made out, take further action.

On completion of the PE, the CBI should submit a report to the Union government.

In its affidavit, the CBI said, “After a PE is registered, verifications/enquires are undertaken and if they indicate commission of offence(s) by the persons concerned, a regular case is registered and further investigation and action are taken in the matter in accordance with the law. In the matter of registration of a case, the CBI does not make a reference to either the Central government or the State government.”

The affidavit said the Supreme Court Registry had made available all documents to the CBI and the enquiry was conducted as per directions.

The CBI was willing to place a status report in the court, if necessary.

It sought a direction to proceed in the matter in accordance with the law without any further reference to the Union or State government.