SC directs govt to file affidavit

New Delhi, July 12: The Supreme Court today directed Kerala government to file an affidavit stating the reasons for a change of heart in a corruption case against former Kerala chief minister K Karunankaran.

The earlier Congress government in the state had filed an application in the apex court seeking permission to withdraw the case against Mr Karunakaran but the present left front government in the state today informed the court that it did not want to withdraw the case and would like to proceed with the trial against the senior Congress leader. Bench comprising Mr Justice K G Balakrishnan, Mr Justice Tarun Chatterji and Mr Justice D K Jain, adjourned the hearing of all the corruption cases till August 1st 2006.

Other politicians and beaureucrats against whom the corruption cases are pending in the top court include former Chief Minister Punjab Prakash S Badal, deputy chief minister of the state Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, and UP revenue board Chairperson Neera Yadav, former Punjab minister Ratan S Ajnala etc.

The petitioners have challenged their prosecution under the prevention of Corruption Act on the ground that proper and valid sanctions have not been obtained from the competent authority before launchng the criminal proceedings against them.

The court also refused the plea of the state of Punjab to permit the resumption of criminal trials against the petitioners while restraining the trial court from pronouncing the final judgmant till the final disposal of the appeal pending before the court.

UNI