Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010856851100.htm

National

Court rejects PIL for CBI probe against Lalu

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to entertain a public interest litigation petition for a CBI probe against Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for allegedly misusing his office to allow his family members to purchase several properties from landowners on the promise of providing jobs to them in the Railways.

When a Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam told senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan that such a PIL could not be entertained, counsel withdrew the petition, filed by leader of Janata Dal (United) Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan. The Bench then dismissed it as withdrawn without prejudice to the petitioner’s liberty to approach appropriate authorities.

Investigation

Mr. Dhavan said there was a need for investigation by an independent agency like the CBI or the Central Vigilance Commission into the allegations as the Prime Minister’s office itself had referred the matter to the Railway Vigilance. He said the Vigilance Officer under the control of Mr. Lalu Prasad could not be said to be independent.

The CJI told the counsel: “You pursue the matter with the PMO. You can wait for the report of the Vigilance Officer. Why do you feel the report would be false? This court cannot direct a CBI enquiry. If we start entertaining these petitions, anybody can file any complaint against anybody.”