New Delhi/Lucknow, May 14 The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench has directed the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and other authorities to file responses within eight weeks on a petition alleging disproportionate assets against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
A Division Bench of Justices Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Zafeer Ahmad passed the order while hearing a criminal writ petition filed by Karnataka-based BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, who appeared in person.
During the in-chambers hearing, counsel appearing for the CBI informed the Allahabad High Court, on the basis of written instructions dated May 11, that the probe agency had received the petitioner’s complaint and would file its response within eight weeks.
Similarly, counsel for the ED submitted before the Justice Chauhan-led Bench, on the basis of instructions dated May 9, that the federal anti-money laundering agency had also received the complaint and “may verify the allegations”.
Recording the submissions, the Allahabad High Court observed: “It is expected that if the complaint of the petitioner has been received, the allegations of the complaints may be verified as per law. It is needless to say that the CBI or ED may take appropriate steps which are permissible under the law.”
The Allahabad High Court also permitted the petitioner to implead the Union of India through the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as additional parties in the matter.
It directed that all parties, including the newly impleaded authorities, file their respective counter affidavits within eight weeks and place on record the progress made in respect of the petitioner’s complaint.
The Justice Chauhan-led Bench further ordered that the paper-book and documents filed in the case continue to remain in sealed cover and be kept in safe custody with the Senior Registrar of the Allahabad High Court.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 20 and will again be taken up during in-chambers proceedings.
Earlier, on May 6, the Allahabad High Court had directed that the entire paper-book be sealed and preserved in safe custody after hearing preliminary submissions made by the petitioner, while granting time to the respondent authorities to seek instructions in the matter.
Shishir is the same petitioner at whose instance the Allahabad High Court had earlier directed Uttar Pradesh Police to conduct an inquiry and consider registration of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi over allegations of dual citizenship.
However, the single-judge Bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, who later recused from hearing the matter, had withdrawn the operative direction, observing that Gandhi, being a prospective accused, ought to be given an opportunity of hearing before any such order could be passed.
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