HC quashes PIL seeking CBI probe into Maya’s cash garland

LUCKNOW: In a relief to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati, who was facing all-round flak for her extravagant rally and cash garland alleged to be worth crores, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking CBI probe into the whole affair.

The PIL filed by three local lawyers on March 18 had claimed that Rs 175 crore was spent on the rally held on March 15, and another Rs 25 crore on the cash garland presented to the chief minister, and sought a CBI probe into the source of the money totalling Rs 200 crore.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad high court Amitava Lala and Justice Anil Kumar dismissed the PIL after hearing both the parties. Chief standing counsel Devendra Upadhyay said the PIL was dismissed by the court as the petitioners failed to produce facts as was alleged in the PIL.

Mayawati was presented with a huge garland made of Rs 1,000 notes at the March 15 rally. Although BSP claimed that the cash garland was worth only Rs 21 lakh, opposition parties said it was worth crores. The Lok Sabha was adjourned twice on March 16 as Congress and SP members raised the issue and sought a probe into the origin of the money.