Mulayam assets: SC grants four weeks time to petitioner

New Delhi, July 17(UNI) The Supreme Court today granted four weeks' time to the petitioner in a PIL seeking prosecution of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members for allegedly amassing assets worth about Rs 100 crores through corrupt means, to file his response to the application of Yadav seeking to keep secret the details of his income and wealth tax returns.

A bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and P K Balasubramanayan adjourning the hearing for eight weeks also directed Mulayam Singh, his MP son Akhilesh Singh Yadav and his son from his second wife Pritik Yadav to file rejoinder if any within four weeks thereafter.

Mulayam Singh had filed his income tax and wealth tax returns from 2000-2006 in sealed covers as per the directions of the apex court.

The petitioner Vishwanath Chaturvedi has alleged that the Samajwadi Party chief had abused his official status to acquire assets well beyond his known sources of income and Yadav and his family members are liable to be prosecuted under section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for UP chief minister and his family members pleaded before the court that the petition was politically motivated as the petitioner is an active Congress worker and is the office bearer of Congress media cell. He also contended that the petitioner has no locus standi as he was not the aggrieved party.

P N Lekhi appearing for the petitioner however responded by saying that these issues have already been settled by this court and the petition is being entertained.

Mulayam Singh Yadav in his counter affidavit had alleged that the petition was aimed at politically damaging his political reputation through such frivolous petition.

UNI AKS/SC RP PM1836