SC moved for Mayawati's prosecution

An application has been moved in the SC challenging the UP Governor's order refusing sanction to prosecute Mayawati in the Taj corridor case.

An application has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the Uttar Pradesh Governor's order refusing sanction to prosecute Chief Minister Mayawati in the Rs 175-crore Taj heritage corridor scam.

The application moved by advocate Ajay Agrawal has contended that Governor TV Rajeshwar's order was based on conjectures and surmises in an attempt to "exonerate" Mayawati and her cabinet colleague Naseemuddin Siddiqui.

HT Image

"The order of the Governor declining sanction to prosecute them is totally void of merits," Agarwal said, adding Rajeshwar "disbelieved" evidence which the apex court had considered while directing the CBI to prosecute Mayawati.

He contended that according to the apex court's direction, the CBI was not required to approach the Governor for sanction to prosecute the accused.

The Governor had on June 3 declined to grant sanction to the CBI to proceed against Mayawati, saying there was no evidence against her.

However, the Supreme Court had on November 27 last year cleared the decks for her prosecution in the scam by quashing a CBI report that recommended the closure of the case.

A three-judge bench of the apex court had directed the CBI to place all materials and documents, including the report of its superintendent of police under whose supervision the case was investigated, before a special magistrate for taking appropriate action.