CBI case smacks of a political 'vendetta': Mayawati

New Delhi, Jul 12: Accusing the CBI of acting as a stooge of the political class in power, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on saturaday, July 12, said its 'recent act' against her in the disproportionate assets case smacked of political vendetta and was part of an unholy conspiracy to finish her off politically.

''Whenever elections are round the corner, the CBI is used by the ruling party to rake up some issue against my party and harm its prospects, Ms Mayawati alleged addressing the media here while adding that false cases were being planted to harm her. ''There was no legality on what the CBI was doing now as it neither had the sanction from the Supreme Court nor permission from by the state government to proceed against me on the issue.'

' Calling it as ''trial by media'', Ms Mayawati alleged the media was fed with false details that gave her party a bad name and created misgivings against her. She said all this was part of a well orchestrated conspiracy to malign her and tarnish her image among the people and finish her political career.

''It is surprising that the CBI lodges the affidavit in the Supreme Court on July 10, despite having completed investigations into the case in January 2007. That too soon after my party withdrew support from the UPA government on June 21 and the Central government was to seek a vote of confidence on July 21.'' Seeking clarification from the central agency as to what prompted it to lodge a case against her on July 10, when the court had set July 28 as the date of hearing, the BSP leader said this was noteworthy as the case had been lying with the CBI for the last five years.

Charging the CBI of submitting the recent affidavit in the Supreme Court at the behest of the Samajwadi Party, Ms Mayawati said the SP was even trying to have its own man at the helm of the central agency as part of the 'deal' to save the Congress on the nuclear deal issue.

''The CBI was acting on the directions of Congress and Samajwadi Party,'' she alleged.

The BSP chief also asked why was the Centre and the CBI quiet on the DA case against Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family, despite the fact that the investigation report was lying with it for the past one year.

''We will recall all state officers working with the CBI and will continue reminding the Centre on it till our demand is met.'' This, she said, was being done as the central agency had refused to take note of her concerns regarding various cases put before it for investigation ''on our request''.

UNI