The Akhilesh Yadav Government in Uttar Pradesh secured a major reprieve last week from Supreme Court by obtaining stay on CBI probe into an alleged mining scam across the State ordered by the Allahabad High Court.
Appearing for the State, senior advocate Anil Divan approached the Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur and obtained an order staying the HC decision on an urgent mentioning. The apex Bench having Justice AM Khanwilkar, besides CJI, said, "The impugned order shall remain stayed to the extent the same directs the CBI to register criminal cases and to continue investigation in the same."
However, the SC clarified that its order "shall not prevent the High Court from examining the preliminary investigation/enquiry reports submitted by the CBI and kept in a sealed cover in the High Court". After examining the same and hearing the state, the HC shall be free to pass any orders, the SC Bench said.
The order is significant as the state is heading to elections early next year. The plea was opposed by advocate Prashant Bhushan who appeared for the litigant.