Law Minister's statement was "spontaneous", Government to Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court was on Thursday told by the Government that Law Minister Salman Khurshid's controversial statement that locking up businessmen will hamper investments was "spontaneous" and not to influence anyone.

"The comment made by the minister to the media was spontaneous" Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval told a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and H L Dattu, which had yesterday sought a clarification from him while hearing the bail pleas of the accused in the 2G spectrum scam.

He said the statement was general in nature and was not not intended to influence in any manner.

The bench also said it was not going to be influenced by anyone.

The bench, which was hearing the bail pleas of jailed Managing Director of Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd Sanjay Chandra and Swan Telecom's Director Vinod Goenka in the case, had yesterday taken strong exception to Khurshid's statement saying if true it is "disturbing".

The apex court had also made known its disapproval of reports that CBI would not oppose the bail pleas of the 2G spectrum scam accused including DMK MP Kanimozhi which prompted the investigating agency to refute such speculation.

The bench wanted to know from Raval whether he was supporting the stand taken by the minister as reported in the newspaper and whether the statement was correct or not as it was causing "confusion".