CBI yet to get nod to file case against Ajit Jogi's son

NEW DELHI: After waiting for almost a year to get the sanction to file a chargesheet in the Disproportionate Assets case against former UP chief minister Mayawati, the CBI is now faced with a similar problem: lack of clearance for filing an SLP challenging the bail of Congress leader Ajit Jogi’s son, Amit Jogi.

For over three months, the CBI has been waiting for a response from the government on its recommendation to file the SLP in the NCP treasurer, Ram Avtar Jaggi, murder case in the Supreme Court.

It is understood that the government hasn’t yet given permission and ultimately the son of the murdered NCP treasurer, Satish Jaggi, in his personal capacity has filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the bail given to Jogi Jr by the Chhattisgarh High Court in a May 3 order.

The CBI had over three months ago recommended that a petition be filed in the Supreme Court challenging Amit Jogi's bail to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). And as per procedure, the DoPT sent it to the law ministry for consideration.

But the CBI is still waiting for a response from the government on its recommendation. It is learnt that under normal circumstances such requests take around a month.

“There was no need to wait and we didn't know if the CBI could move court so I decided to go ahead and file an SLP,” said Satish Jaggi, who is the all India youth General Secretary in the NCP. He added that the case in the trail court was at a crucial period. Defence evidence is to be presented in the trial court that is hearing the murder case, with the prosecution evidence just having been completed.

The Supreme Court had, earlier in the month, issued notices to the CBI, Amit Jogi and the state of Chhattisgarh on the petition filed by Satish Jaggi challenging grant of Amit Jogi's bail by the Chhattisgarh High Court.

The Chhattisgarh High Court had granted conditional bail to Amit Jogi and had directed him to not influence witnesses and report to the police station every month.

The petition filed by Mr Jaggi seeks that the bail granted to Amit Jogi be cancelled on the ground that the Chattisgarh High Court order reached a conclusion in the ongoing trail contrary to law laid down by the Supreme Court.

The petition says the High Court has "further attempted to evaluate the weight of evidence being conducted in the ongoing trial proceedings ... and has reached a conclusion that no prima facie case can be made out against Respondent 3 (Amit Jogi) thereby jeopardising the trial proceedings itself." The NCP treasurer was killed on June 4, ’03, near Mohdapara police station in Raipur city.