D day for Mayawati: SC verdict on Taj Corridor case tomorrow

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) The Supreme Court will decide tomorrow the fate of Taj corridor scandal case in which Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is the main accused.

Ms Mayawati is facing allegations of misusing her official position as the then UP Chief Minister and acquiring assets disproportionate to her known sources of income.

A bench comprising Justices S B Sinha and S H Kapadia will pronounce tomorrow its verdict on the issue whether the report of the investigating officer saying there is sufficient evidence against Ms Mayawati to charge her for an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act should be sent to the trial court or the report of a senior Central Bureau of Incestigation (CBI) officer, giving her a clean chit in the case should be considered.

The CBI, however, had decided to drop the case against Ms Mayawati, after the Attorney General of India Milon K Banerjee gave an opinion that, no case was made out against the BSP leader and hence proceedings against her should be dropped.

The judgement in the case was reserved about 2 months back after the conclusion of the arguments.

Counsel for CBI had contended before the court that a superior officer has the power to overrule the opinion of an investigating officer and that the CBI is supporting Ms Mayawati in the case.

It may be noted here that Ms Mayawati is facing allegations of acquiring properties worth several hundred crores in Noida, Delhi, Lucknow and in other parts of the country including her native village in UP.

The judgment holds special significance in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in the politically most weighted state, with Ms Mayawati being one of the main contenders in the race for power.

UNI/AKS/SC AKJ RP DB1835