SC disapproves reports on 2G bail

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has expressed displeasure over reports in a section of the media that CBI was ‘dilly dallying’ on bail pleas of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and four others in the 2G case.

The bench asked the trial court to decide the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and the four other accused without being influenced by media reports. “Reporting in the media shall not influence the adjudication before the trial court,” the bench said.

“We express our serious anguish over distorted and misleading versions of proceedings reported in newspapers, which is most unfortunate and regrettable. There is also an attempt to tarnish CBI,” said a bench comprising Justice GS Singhvi and Justice HL Dattu on Tuesday.

Special CBI Judge OP Saini is set to pass an order on the bail pleas of Kanimozi, Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar, Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agrawal and film producer Karim Morani on Thursday.

SC expressed anguish over media reports on its query to CBI on Monday whether the agency had opposed the bail pleas. “We are deeply concerned with the one particular newspaper’s headline about CBI dilly-dallying in the case,” said Justice Singhvi. The bench said no one could question the discretion of the prosecuting agency and the special public prosecutor to make a submission before the trial court.

CBI’s counsel Harin Raval told the bench that the special public prosecutor, during the course of the arguments before the trial court, had not opposed their bail pleas and it was made clear that the trial court had inherent discretion in deciding whether to grant bail to the five accused.

Raval’s clarification came in response to the apex court’s query on CBI’s stand on the bail pleas before the trial court. The bench also reserved its order on the bail pleas of Unitech Wireless MD Sanjay Chandra, Swan telecom MD Vinod Goenka and Reliance ADAG executives Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara. All are lodged in Tihar jail. The bench also ignored Chandra’s counsel Ram Jethmalani’s request for an immediate order.