The Hindu : National : Sardesai will not be arrested, U.P. assures court

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Friday, Oct 20, 2006
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Sardesai will not be arrested, U.P. assures court

Legal Correspondent

Rajdeep Sardesai

New Delhi : With the Editor-in-Chief of CNN-IBN, Rajdeep Sardesai, agreeing to appear before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on October 27 pursuant to a resolution passed by it and the State Government assuring the court that it would not arrest him, the Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by Mr. Sardesai challenging the resolution.

Mr. Sardesai had sought a stay on the operation of the resolution directing him to appear in person to explain a charge of breach of privilege for telecasting a sting operation involving its MLAs.

When the petition came up for admission before a three-judge Bench, comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Justice C.K. Thakker and Justice R.V. Raveendran, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi said that Mr. Sardesai would appear in person before the Assembly without any police escort.

Senior counsel for the State said that it was one of those unfortunate incidents and accepted the suggestion of Mr. Rohatgi. The Bench then disposed of the matter.

In the sting operation telecast earlier this year, three MLAs, including a then Minister, were shown purportedly taking bribes and allegedly admitting to involvement in activities such as `hawala' transactions.

This was considered breach of privilege of the House and a resolution was passed on October 11 asking the police to produce Mr. Sardesai before the Assembly on October 27.

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