Try Mayawati in Taj case: CVC

BSP leader challenges vigilance commission order

It was disclosed in the Supreme Court today that the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has recommended the prosecution of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, though the attorney-general had given an opinion to close the Rs 175 crore Taj heritage corridor scam case.

The central vigilance commission handed over its report in a sealed cover to the apex court Bench headed by Justice Ruma Pal.

The court had referred the question of closing the case to the central vigilance commission in the wake of the views held by the attorney-general and the CBI director. Both of them wanted to close the case against the BSP supremo.

The central vigilance commission has also recommended prosecution of former Environment Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui and former Environment Secretary RK Sharma. Three others against whom prosecution has been recommended are Rajendra Prasad, Kamal Radhu and M Sharma.

However, the central vigilance commission was for dropping cases against some others like former Chief Secretary DS Bagga, Mayawati's former personal secretary PL Punia, former Union Environment Secretary KC Mishra, and former state Environment Secretary VK Gupta.

The commission undertook the exercise at the instance of the Supreme Court, which was examining the Rs 175-crore scam for the past two years.

The opinion of Attorney-General Milon Banerjee to close the case created a controversy as all officers except the CBI director had found enough grounds to proceed with the prosecution of the main players in the corridor scam.

Immediately on the disclosure of the central vigilance commission recommendation, Mayawati counsel KK Venugopal challenged the power of the commission to recommend prosecution when the CBI and the attorney-general had given a contrary opinion.

He argued on the legal points in the law and the court had asked him to file his contentions so that they might be considered at the next hearing.

The court had ordered registration of first information report against Mayawati and others when an application filed by court appointed lawyer Krishan Mahajan stated that crores of rupees were being siphoned out of the project fund.

Apart from the fund misuse, the project would have destroyed the ecology of Agra and the Taj Mahal surroundings.

The CVC's recommendation interestingly, found no resonance in the BJP. At its daily briefing, the BJP was repeatedly asked what it thought about the recommendation but it refused to comment.

The CBI is likely to be the authority to probe the case. Depending on the evidence the body finds for prosecution, the case will continue. Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh Yadav is likely to demand the case be pursued with vigour by the CBI.