The Maharashtra government on Thursday took its stand on the CBI’s pleas against a writ petition seeking constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case related to the FIR lodged by the agency against NCP leader and former state home minister Anil Deshmukh. started responding.
The state government has sought directions to stay proceedings arising out of the CBI probe and has taken up complaints against the agency’s summons issued to chief secretary Sitaram Kunte and DGP Sanjay Pandey, claiming that its “highest officials”. is being harassed.
After Mumbai Police summoned CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal to appear before the BKC Cyber Police Station in connection with the FIR registered in the “illegal” phone tapping and data leak case, the CBI issued summons to Kunte and Pandey. had asked. To appear before him in connection with the Deshmukh case.
A division bench of Justice Nitin M Jamdar and Justice Sarang V Kotwal continued hearing on the state government’s plea on Thursday.
The CBI said the Maharashtra government had sought relief as well as pleas against Jaiswal on behalf of two of its top officials and he was made to “mislead the court” as the officials themselves did not file a petition in the matter. Had it. Wednesday.
Senior state government advocate Darius Khambata on Thursday refuted the CBI’s arguments and said that Jaiswal, who is going to be a key witness in the case, who took decisions for transfers and postings, was not on top of a fair probe with him. The organization probing the matter was required to instil confidence among citizens as per the HC order dated April 5.
Rejecting the CBI’s allegation of a surrogate petition with Deshmukh being the “real actor”, Khambata said on behalf of the state, “I am not going to apologize to Deshmukh, if he is guilty at all, to accompany him.” Will be hanged in ‘Unknown Others’. CBI said this is a proxy petition for Deshmukh and we could have sought this relief earlier. By filing such a petition, what we are doing is actually contrary to the will of a convicted person We are demanding an independent inquiry and are not stopping it.”
“Document after document is showing his (Jaiswal) involvement. I am not saying that there was any wrongdoing on their part at this stage, but it is a matter for investigation. Let’s assume, this is a thorough investigation, but who is doing it? it’s important. The HC in its July judgment had entrusted the duty in the state to ensure a free and fair investigation, so we have the right to file this petition,” argued Khambata.
The HC will continue hearing on behalf of the state government on Friday.
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