Patna HC stays CBI probe into funds scam

In an order that brought relief to the Nitish Kumar government and also avoided the judiciarys showdown with the legislature,the Patna High Court on Friday stayed its previous order on handing over the alleged financial irregularity case to the CBI till further orders.

The latest order means that the CBI director and joint director will not have to appear before the court as per its July 15 order on a PIL filed by Arvind Kumar Sharma,demanding a CBI probe into the alleged fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 11,412.54 crore from treasury between 2002 and 2008 without justifying expenses with related bills and vouchers.

A division Bench of Chief Justice Rekha M Doshit and Justice S K Katariyar,after hearing interlocutory application by the government for modification,said its previous order (on referring the matter to the CBI) has been kept in abeyance until further orders.