New Delhi: A special court has rejected the plea of CBI to drop the name of former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan from the chargesheet in the Adarsh housing society scam.
In a big blow to Ashok Chavan's prospects in the Lok Sabha polls, the court in its one-line order said “I am rejecting the application”.
The court joudge S G Dighe dismissed CBI's plea. Ashok Chavan with 12 others has been charged in the case for corruption.
Governor K Sankaranarayanan had last month refused to sanction Chavan's prosecution on an application moved by CBI.
In the course of arguments, Special Public Prosecutor Bharat Badami said though CBI would be “very happy” to prosecute Chavan, “our hands are tied” as the Governor had refused to grant sanction for his prosecution under section 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) and other charges under IPC.
When the judge asked why Chavan could not be proceeded against under the Prevention of Corruption Act for which gubernatorial sanction was not required, the prosecutor said the provisions of PC Act needed to be backed by those under IPC for the case to be strong.
Since the Governor had not sanctioned prosecution under the Indian Penal Code, the case against Chavan may become weak, he contended.
