Supreme Court directs Allahabad High Court to defer case over Rahul Gandhi's assets

New Delhi: In a relief for the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Allahabad High Court to defer proceedings pending before it in a plea filed by a BJP worker alleging that Gandhi possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) or any other authority not to submit any investigation report to the high court till further orders.

Also Read: Ram Mandir fund theft case: SC seeks SIT status report, allows public inputs


The bench on Monday questioned why the high court passed the said orders without giving Gandhi a hearing opportunity.

"Suppose somebody commits murders, etc, the police do not need permission (to investigate). But what appears to us is, subject to the assistance provided to us from both sides, if the court wants to issue a direction, courts are expected to follow the principle of natural justice," CJI Kant verbally remarked.

Also Read: Right to speedy trial a valuable right of victim too: Supreme Court

The bench said that if any agency has knowledge of any disproportionate assets belonging to any individual, it can proceed on its own and the same does not require court orders.

"If it is so serious, why has your agency kept quiet? Do you need a direction from the court? Have you taken any suo motu action? No, right?" Justice Bagchi asked the CBI's counsel.