ASG Luthra recuses from representing CBI in coalgate

Additional Solicitor General Siddharth Luthra today withdrew himself from representing CBI in Supreme Court in the coalgate case, making him the third advocate to dissociate from the controversial case.
Luthra, who took the brief after senior advocate U U Lalit withdrew himself on the ground that he had earlier represented one of the accused Jindal Group firm in the multi-crore rupees scam, recused after the apex court asked whether he would be able to raise questions against Centre's decision despite being a government advocate.
"You must not be reluctant to say on the steps taken by the government on CBI's functional autonomy. There should not be any reservation on your part. You have to take a call on it," a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said.

The bench, however, made it clear that he can represent CBI in the case and there is no problem but Attorney General G E Vahanvati also submitted that he is not in the favour of law officers being engaged by the CBI in view of the controversy of sharing of probe report which forced the then ASG Haren Raval, who was representing the agency, to resign.
Luthra thereafter recused himself in the case.