SC to hear corruption case against UP CM on Jan 24

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) The Supreme Court today fixed January 24 next year for hearing of a PIL seeking CBI investigation into the assets allegedly acquired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members through misuse of their official status as public servants.

The move comes close on the heels of the apex court ruling on corruption among civil servants both politicians and bureaucrats.

A bench comprising Justices A R Lakshmanan and Altamas Kabir fixed the date of hearing at the request of D K Garg, counsel for the petitioner Vishwanath Chaturvedi, for listing the matter for early hearing as the pleadings in the case are already complete.

Petitioner Chaturvedi in his rejoinder affidavit has alleged that Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members including his son have amassed immovable and moveable assets running into several hundred crores and the state government has contributed in their personal projects such as colleges.

The petitioner while denying the allegations that he was Congress leader and the present PIL was politically motivated, has also alleged that Yadav and his MP son and brothers have liberally contributed crores from their MPLAD funds in the family assets such as school and colleges which is a clear case for the prosecution of the Samajwadi Party leader and his family members under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The petitioner has also prayed to the court to direct the removing of the seal of the Income tax and wealth tax returns filed by Mulayam Singh in this court in sealed cover as the same are public documents and there is no justification for these documents to be treated as confidential or secret.

Mulayam Singh Yadav in his counter had denied the allegations of the petitioner and had alleged that the present PIL was politically motivated aimed at harming him politically as the petitioner is closely associated with Congress. Mulayam Singh had also pleaded that the PIL was not maintainable as no fundamental right of the petitioner has been violated.

The assembly elections in the state are due to be held early next year and if any adverse judgment is given by the apex court it may play havoc with the political fortunes of the embattled Chief Minister as he is already under tremendous pressure in view of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state coupled with farmers agitation against setting up of SEZs on their agricultural land.

UNI AKS/SC RP HS1850