Special court to take cognisance of charge sheet on July 24

The special CBI court, hearing the Adarsh scam case, has said it would take cognisance of the charge sheet in the Adarsh scam case only on July 24. The charge sheet has been filed against 13 accused including former chief minister Ashok Chavan.

The special CBI court, hearing the Adarsh scam case, has said it would take cognisance of the charge sheet in the Adarsh scam case only on July 24. The charge sheet has been filed against 13 accused including former chief minister Ashok Chavan.

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The special court, during a routine hearing on Tuesday, told the accused and the prosecution that it would hear the CBI counsel first. On July 24, CBI counsel Bharat Badami will begin arguing on grounds for the court to take cognisance of the charge sheet and issuing summons to the accused. It is only after the court decides to take cognisance of the charge sheet, will it issue summons to the accused who were arrested and released on bail, and will issue process against the accused who have not been arrested so far, which includes Chavan.

During the hearing on Tuesday, the court also asked about the status of the hearing before the Bombay high court and whether the agency had got sanction to prosecute IAS officers Jairaj Phatak and Dr Pradeep Vyas.

The court was told that the high court had fixed July 18 for the next hearing of the PILs in the scam seeking monitoring of investigations by the court and invoking provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act against those involved.

The CBI had filed a 10,000-page charge sheet in the case last week, against 13 persons, including Chavan. The CBI has proposed charges under various sections of the IPC and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Crucial step for trial

Taking cognisance of a charge sheet is the procedure of accepting the charge sheet filed by the prosecution against the accused after completion of the investigation.

It is on the basis of this charge sheet that the trial against the accused progresses. The trial cannot begin without the court taking cognisance of this charge sheet.