Govt opposes CBI probe,says Centre trying to gain political mileage

A division bench of acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala is hearing a public interest litigation by a lawyer and a writ petition from the parents of the victim children with reference to the case.

Not happy with the investigation in the case,the bench had during the last hearing asked the government to explain as to why the investigation should not be handed over to the CBI. Opposing this,the government has filed an affidavit while explaining various reasons for not transferring the case to the central agency.

When the matter came up for hearing today,Centre’s counsel Assistant Solicitor General Pankaj Champaneri,who is one of the parties to the petition,stood up and started arguing.

Later,according to Champaneri,Government Pleader Prakash Jani objected to a CBI probe,contending central government was trying to take undue advantage of the case for political reasons.

He,Champaneri said,also argued that the Centre should not be heard at all on the issue.

Champaneri said the court has asked the state government to provide a copy of the affidavit to all the parties and kept it for further hearing on June 21.

In February this year,the HC had ordered the government to register an FIR in the case against those responsible on the basis of complaint lodged by the parents of the victim children. The court had also ordered to get the investigation supervised by a police officer of the Deputy Inspector General of Police rank.

Presently,the investigation is stayed by the High Court.