Mayawati

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved verdict on whether or not to direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in the Rs.175-crore Taj Heritage project scam case.

A Bench comprising Justices S.B. Sinha, S.H. Kapadia and D.K. Jain reserved ruling at the conclusion of arguments.

The Taj Heritage corridor encompassed five important monuments — Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Rambagh, Itmad-ud-Daula and Chini ka Roja. The charge against Ms. Mayawati and other State Government officials was that the project work was undertaken without obtaining environmental clearance.

The contract was given to favour certain persons, it was alleged.

The Bench also asked the CBI to file in two weeks a status report on the disproportionate assets case registered against Ms. Mayawati.

As for the Taj scam, the CBI Director, based on the opinion given by Attorney-General Milon K. Banerjee, took a decision not to proceed against her. However, the Central Vigilance Commission, which was asked to scrutinise the entire CBI material on the investigation, recommended her prosecution.

Senior counsel K.K. Venugopal, appearing for Ms. Mayawati, said she would be seriously prejudiced if the CVC recommendations were acted upon. The CVC Act would not apply to public servants employed in connection with the affairs of the State.

The CVC was not competent to make any recommendation on the investigation of the alleged offences against her.

Further, counsel said, there was a prohibition against the CVC interfering with the autonomy of the CBI investigation. The law did not permit any outside authority to direct the investigating agency to come to a particular conclusion.

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