The Hindu : National : Nalini Chidambaram: court rejects petition for CBI probe

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Saturday, Sep 17, 2005

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Nalini Chidambaram: court rejects petition for CBI probe

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected at the admission stage a public interest litigation petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the circumstances in which Nalini Chidambaram, wife of Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, appeared for the Income Tax Department in a batch of cases in the Madras High Court. "It is wholly misconceived and we cannot entertain it," said a three-judge Bench comprising Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice C.K. Thakker and Justice R.V. Raveendran.

The petitioner, Bangalore-based advocate B.A. Raghu Mohan Reddy, said though Mr. Chidambaram made a statement in Parliament that had he had knowledge of his wife was appearing for the department, he would have ensured that the proposal to engage her was nipped in the bud, the matter needed further scrutiny.

The judiciary should order a CBI probe to find out the department's "hidden agenda." The appointment of Mrs. Chidambaram was a violation of the principles of natural justice and of rules. The Government could not take the matter lightly, the petitioner said.

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