Friday, August 5, 2011

SC: Second probe as bad as first one


There was no respite to the Delhi Police from the Supreme Court on its “shoddy” investigation into the “cash-for-vote” scam as the top court slammed its second probe report, saying that it was not even shades better than the previous report filed before the interrogation of some persons.


“Your second investigation (report) is as meaningless as the first investigation,” a bench of Justices Aftab Alam and R.M. Lodha told Additional Solicitor-General (ASG) Haren Rawal appearing for the police, which had submitted the report after questioning Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, who was in the centre of the controversy and his two alleged associates and some other politicians.
Reminding the police of the seriousness of the case, the bench said “it is distressing that middlemen of the cheapest kind tried to manipulate Parliament proceedings and to an extent they have succeeded. You must find out what is the source of the money.”
“Why don’t you take it (case) to a logical conclusion. You say there is circumstantial evidence against one person (and) there is needle of suspicion against two. What are you doing regarding those people?” Justice Alam, heading the bench asked the ASG.
As ASG Rawal said teams had been sent to some states and the matter was to be inquired in some other states, the bench in a tone sending a stern message to the top brass of the Delhi Police, stating that they should to investigate “as best as any other agency if not better and shed their inhibition”.
As Additional Solicitor-General Rawal sought at least 40 days time to complete the investigation and submit a further report, the exasperated bench giving no respite to the police said “why do you need 40 days. It is too long, you have already taken two years.
Nothing substantive has been done. You have been activated by certain order of this court.”
After the grilling, the court passed a brief order giving the Delhi Police three weeks’ time to submit a further status report, to which, Mr Rawal said he would ensure that the report is filed at least two days in advance of next date to be fixed by the court.

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