SC issues notice to CBI on Essar's petition

The Supreme Court today issued notices to the CBI and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation on a petition of Essar Teleholdings Limited and Loop Telecom Limited, which have questioned the special CBI court's authority to try them even though they have not been charged under Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the CBI and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation on a petition of Essar Teleholdings Limited and Loop Telecom Limited, which have questioned the special CBI court's authority to try them even though they have not been charged under Prevention of Corruption Act.

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The apex court bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi, however, rejected the plea of the two service providers to suspend the proceedings against them before the special CBI court.

When senior counsel Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi pleaded that the special CBI court of Justice OP Saini did not have the jurisdiction to take cognizance against them, the court said that it will hear the matter and if it found that the special court lacked jurisdiction, then it will quash the proceedings against them.

The court said that the notices were returnable in two weeks.