HC asks for expenditure on special prosecutor to be audited

Mumbai, Sep 13 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today directed the Auditor General, Mumbai, Audit I, to look into the state's expenditure for appointing Special Public Prosecutor Ujwal Nikam in several cases.

A division bench, comprising justices R M Lodha and S A Bobde, was hearing a public interest litigation filed by an advocate from Jalgaon, S A Shirsat, who had alleged that Adv Nikam, who resides and practices in Jalgaon, had been illegally appointed and lakhs of rupees were spent by the State to pay for his hotel bills while in Mumbai.

Adv M P Vashi, arguing on behalf of the petitioner, told the court that in a span of three years from 2003 to 2005, Adv Nikam was in Jalgaon only for 56 working days.

He further submitted that from 2003-05, he was paid Rs 38,65,585 as fees and other expenses as Special Public Prosecutor by the State Home Department. Also, more than Rs one crore was spent on his security from January 2003 to date and more than Rs 50 lakhs was paid to him as fees from 1999 to date for 36 cases.

However, the court held that the state's readiness to pay so much money to one person could arise out of confidence in him as an advocate.

State Advocate General Ravi Kadam, on behalf of the state, also submitted that Adv Nikam was a sharp lawyer and had many good cases to his credit. This was one of the reasons for his appointment as special public prosecutor in many cases.

Any objections raised directly by the Auditor General shall be informed to the state, said the court.

UNI ARM MAZ VD HS2242