PF scam: SC stops accused's cremation

The Supreme Court today directed that the body of Ashutosh Asthana, the prime accused cum witness in a corruption case involving judges of the higher judiciary, should not be cremated "if it has not been until now", till further orders.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed that the body of Ashutosh Asthana, the prime accused cum witness in a corruption case involving judges of the higher judiciary, should not be cremated "if it has not been until now", till further orders.

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A bench of D.K. Jain and H.L. Dattu issued the order on a plea by senior counsel Anil Diwan who had approached the court seeking an independent probe into the mysterious death of Asthana in Dasna Jail in Ghaziabad on Saturday.

Diwan told the court that there was some uncertainty regarding reports of Asthana's cremation and accordingly, he sought the court's direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that if his body has not been cremated till now, it should not be cremated till further orders.

Approving Diwan's demand, the court told him to inform the CBI counsel of the directions.

The court will hear the matter in detail on Tuesday.