The Allahabad High Court on Saturday stayed the arrest of Samajwadi Partys national general secretary Amar Singh in connection with an FIR registered against him with Babupurwa police station in Kanpur on October 15 under the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as under the Money Laundering Act. The High Court directed that Singh shall not be arrested by the state authorities,but said the state government could refer the matter to the appropriate authority under the Money Laundering Act for action. The court also asked the petitioner to cooperate with the investigation and provide all the documents to the investigating officer on his demand. The bench comprising Justices Yatindra Singh and S K Tripathi asked the concerned parties,including the state government,to file a counter-affidavit in this case and fixed January 28,2009 to hear the case. The HC made it clear the state government could get the matter investigated by a special team consisting of persons having good knowledge of accounts. Appearing for the SP leader,senior advocate of the Supreme Court Rakesh Dwivedi,assisted by Sunita Dwivedi and Gaurav Bhatia,argue the allegations levelled against their client were vague. Dwivedi argued Singh petitioner is sitting MP since 1996 and therefore there was no question of him absconding or leaving the country. Singhs counsels alleged the FIR was an outcome of political vendetta and was registered at the instance of Chief Minister Mayawati. Singh had filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court on November 20,seeking stay of his arrest.
