Ex-PM Manmohan Singh, high & mighty came under Delhi courts' scanner in 2014

NEW DELHI: Cases of corruption and multi-crore rupee scams hogged the limelight in 2014 with names of the high and mighty, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, cropping up in trial courts here besides bringing down curtains on the 1975 murder case of the then Railway Minister L N Mishra.

Several top corporates and bureaucrats also came under scanner for their alleged role in matters like coal blocks allocation scam and 2G spectrum-related cases with the courts tightening the noose around them and premier probe agency CBI facing some intense scrutiny on its investigations.

The year witnessed politicians like Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, Union minister Smriti Irani being summoned by trial courts across the national capital as accused in cases filed against them while Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had to spend six days in Tihar jail.

CBI had a tough time in politically-sensitive cases throughout the year. However, a special court accepted its charge sheet and summoned Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others as accused in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

The premier agency, however, was left red faced when it was unable to explain properly the queries posed by the judge in coal scam matters with the court terming its probe as "sketchy".

CBI's move to close some of the coal blocks allocation cases came under strict scrutiny of the court which refused to accept the closure reports and even directed the probe agency to quiz Manmohan Singh in one of the coals cam matters allegedly involving top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others.

Apart from Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, those summoned on a complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy alleging cheating and misappropriation of funds in acquiring ownership of the now-defunct daily National Herald were AICC Treasurer Moti Lal Vohra, General Secretary Oscar Fernandes and two others. However, the trial court order was stayed by the Delhi High Court.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's name figured in the court with CBI informing the judge that it was probing how the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval was given to Rs 3500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.