HC tells CBI to take clear stand in sandalwood smuggling case

Kochi, Mar 3 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today directed the CBI to make its stand clear on taking over the Valayar rural industries sandalwood smuggling case.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice K M Joseph, directed the central agency to file a statement on this on Friday.

The court also orally expressed displeasure over the ''double standards'' of the CBI in investigating some old cases, while not doing it in some other cases.

The court made these observations while hearing a public interest litigation filed by one Gokul Prasad, complaining about the delay in the CBI investigation into the case.

The case pertained to the smuggling of a large quantity of sandalwood. The then Forest Minister K P Vishwanathan was forced to resign following certain adverse remarks made by the High Court while considering the bail application of the accused in the case.

UNI XR ARC SY AS1906