Amar Singh's CD release not before end August

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday fixed 3rd week of August to decide whether the contents of Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh tapes can be made public. The apex court, however, said that if there were sufficient ground of commission of illegality in the tapes, then it was opened for the competent authority to proceed in accordance with the law.

A bench comprising Justice C K Thakker and Justice Altamas Kabir said, “we are not disposing of the applications seeking disclosure of the contents of the tapes”. The court posted the matter for further hearing in the 3rd week of August.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the Centre for Public Interest Litigation said that the contents of the tapes substantially deals with public domain. Except for 3 conversations, all the other 18 hours tapes contains the issues of public area. People have a right to know about their representatives when they were dealing on public issue, said Bhushan.

However, senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi appearing for the Samajwadi Party leader opposed that by saying that the interests of the petitioner (Amar Singh) should also be protected. At this the court said that it will reconcile the interests of both the petitioner and people.

Mr Bhushan also said that the conversations in the tapes are sufficient to prove the commission of illegality which itself is a sufficient ground to proceed in accordance with the law.

The court then clarified that if there are sufficient prove in this regard, then it was opened for the competent authority to go ahead in accordance with the law.

Earlier, the apex court had restrained the media from making public the contents of the tapes entitled “Amar Singh Ki Amar Kahani”. It is believed to contain his conversations with UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and various Bollywood actresses.