The Supreme Court has put the brakes on indiscriminate arrests in the Srinagar sex scandal with a partial stay on the Jammu & Kashmir High Court order directing CBI to conduct custodial interrogation of all public functionaries named by kingpin Sabeena during investigation.

Realising the sensitivity of the case, in which the agency has been asked by the high court in its August 11 order to arrest all persons even without proper verification of the statements against them, a bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal stayed the directive which gave investigating officers the liberty to arrest persons without the instruction of his superiors.

“We direct that till next date of hearing the IO will conduct custodial interrogation of such persons he may think fit and on consultation/instruction with the CBI director,” the bench, also comprising of Justice S H Kapadia and Justice C K Thakker, said.

The court issued notices to the Jammu & Kashmir Bar Association and others on the petition filed by CBI challenging the high court order.

The agency has also questioned the procedure adopted by the high court for monitoring the case, in which 18 people including two sitting legislators, who have been former ministers, a BSF DIG, an IAS officer, a former additional advocate general and two DySPs have been arrested.

Solicitor-General G E Vahanvati and Additional Solicitor-General Amrender Sharan mentioned the special leave petition (SLP) contending that the high court order had wide-ranging ramifications and serious implication on various persons and institutions.

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