DA case: SC agrees to hear Maya plea on closure

Terming the case a “textbook example” of the overreach by an agency (CBI) under the Union Government, the CM accused the Centre of “giving a rise to reasonable apprehension of an attempt to create a lever to try to secure political ends by an abuse of legal system”. “The premier investigation agency has unfortunately been used as a tool by the Central Government by lodging the illegal FIR so as to harass her and proceedings of which are creating obstruction in smooth running of the Government in the state,” the petition added.

Alleging that investigations carried out in the case were aimed at Maya’s “character assassination”, the counsel appearing for the BSP supremo urged Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan to hear the matter and issue directions to CBI to file a “closure report” in the case.

Refusing to issue any urgent directions, the Bench, also comprising Justices RV Raveednran and MK Sharma, posted the matter for hearing on May 15.

The BSP chief, in her writ petition, contended that no sanction was taken from the state and the agency had misinterpreted the apex court order, which only directed investigation into the Taj Corridor case. “Lodging the FIR and investigating into her assets is beyond the purview of Taj Heritage Corridor case and is a direct onslaught on her fundamental rights,” the petition stated.