Who’s side is Maya on?: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday ticked of Mayawati and the CBI for adopting delay tactics and getting the UP Chief Minister’s 2008 petition against her prosecution in a disproportionate assets case adjourned on several occasions.

The Supreme Court on Monday ticked of Mayawati and the CBI for adopting delay tactics and getting the UP Chief Minister’s 2008 petition against her prosecution in a disproportionate assets case adjourned on several occasions.

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A bench headed by Justice B. Sudershan Reddy lashed out in an open court when the CBI asked for a six-week adjournment. “If both of you are together then we shall not hear this case at all,” the bench said. It added, “This petition is pending since 2008. Sometimes the petitioner (Mayawati) wants time to file an application; sometimes you (CBI) take time to file your reply to it.”

The bench’s remarks came when CBI counsel T.A. Khan said he wanted time to file a reply to Mayawati’s petition.

The matter was adjourned on the last day of hearing after Mayawati sought time to file her rejoinder to a CBI affdavit telling the SC that it would proceed with the probe against her.

In her latest move, the UP CM wants to amend her petition in the light of a recent SC judgement empowering courts to order CBI probe.

In 2008, Mayawati had filed a petition seeking the quashing of the case against her. She had also challenged apex court order directing CBI inquiry against her in the Taj Corridor case. In the wake of SC dismissing the petitions, Mayawati’s petition becomes infructuous and liable to be dismissed. The disproportionate assets case was an offshoot of the Taj Corridor case in which the CBI is seeking to prosecute her.

The CBI has already informed the SC that it would proceed with the probe despite income-tax authorities giving her a clean chit. The agency claims to have found “cogent, credible and admissible evidence” against Mayawati.

In an affidavit the agency said the April 5 2010 order has been challenged before the IncomeTax Appellate Tribunal.

While Mayawati has accused the CBI of being hostile against her, the investigating agency says there is “ample evidence” to show she had amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.