2G: SC to hear plea for setting up committee to monitor probe

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear the plea for constituting a committee of expert persons for effective monitoring of the probe into 2G spectrum scam after an NGO expressed apprehension of the case collapsing in the trial court on the ground that CBI investigation was "less than honest".

"We will hear you on the constitution of group of persons to assist this court for monitoring of the probe in the case," a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly said.

CBI, however, opposed the plea for constituting the committee or setting up Special Investigating Team (SIT) with its counsel and senior advocate K K Venugopal saying "it is not possible".

Venugopal said a strange procedure was being sought to be followed after charge sheets have already been filed in the case.

The NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, through its advocate Prashant Bhushan filed an application alleging CBI was not doing a fair and impartial investigation irrespective of the status of the person sought to be investigated, as was directed by apex court by its December 16, 2010 order.

"Thus, it is essential that either two or three persons with good reputation and experience be appointed to over-see and monitor the CBI investigation on a day-to-day basis (as has been done in black money case) or the entire investigation be handed over to an SIT.