CBI probe can be ordered in exceptional cases, Centre tells SC

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) The Centre today today told theSupreme Court that CBI inquiry can be ordered by courts"sparingly and in exceptional circumstances."

Attorney General G E Vahanvathi told a special bench ofjustices Altamas Kabir and H L Dattu that whenever it involvedviolation of fundamental rights, unnatural deaths or incidentshaving national and international ramifications, courts canorder a probe by the central agency.

Vahanvati made his brief submission during the hearingof the review petition filed by Samajwadi Party leader MulayamSingh Yadav challenging the apex court''s earlier direction fora CBI probe into his and the family''s alleged disproportionateassets.

He cited the Constitution bench ruling in West Bengalversus OPDR case in 2010 wherein it was held that courts canorder a CBI inquiry in "exceptional" cases in a sparingmanner whenever the issue had "national or internationalramifications."

Similarly, citing the Ramdas Athwale judgement, he saida CBI inquiry can be ordered when there was a violation ofa fundamental right of the citizen.

Acting on the PIL filed by an advocate VishwanathChaturvedi, the SC had on March 1, 2007, ordered a CBI inquiryinto the assets owned by Yadav his sons Akhilesh, Prateek anddaughter-in-law Dimple.