Centre opposes PIL in Supreme Court on PNB fraud, says probe already on
New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday opposed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking probe into the role of PNB's top management in the Rs 11,300 crore scam and extradition of diamond trader Nirav Modi who is alleged to be involved in it.
Opposing the PIL, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that FIR had already been filed in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case and a probe was going on.
As Venugopal rose to oppose the PIL, petitioner lawyer Vineet Dhanda urged the bench to issue a notice to the Centre as the "kingpin of the scam Nirav Modi" had run away with the "common man's savings."
The court then witnessed some heated exchanges between Dhanda and the bench after Justice Chandrachud described the PIL as a "publicity oriented litigation."
"It is a publicity-oriented litigation. You have to make averment that the government is not investigating. We must allow the government to investigate. These are the petitions playing to the gallery. Let us not pre-empt the jurisdiction of the government (to investigate a scam)," Justice Chandrachud said.
Taking exception to the observation from the bench, Dhanda said: "The Court is insulting me," and if the PIL was being seen as "something to gain publicity from" then he would withdraw it and let the court take suo motu cognisance of the scam and look into it.
He told the bench that he had been practicing in the top court for the last 16 years and did not need to file PIL for publicity.
Telling the bench that the entire country was watching it, Dhanda said that the scam of such a magnitude has jolted the morale of the customers (account holders) and involved the interest of the country.
"If they (Government) are so efficient, why scams are taking place," Dhanda said, pointing to liquor baron Vijay Mallya leaving the country after making a Rs 9,000 crore hole in the coffers of a consortium of banks.
Dhanda said: "What he is opposing -- let him state in an affidavit."
At this Justice Chandrachud said: "The way you are pressing your plea, the purpose is to gain publicity."
Justice Khanwilkar asked Dhanda how he was arguing his plea in person. "Did you take the permission of the court for this." To which, Dhanda said that he was to be represented by his father J.P.Dhanda, who had fallen ill.
Telling the petitioner that court would like to hear the matter, Chief Justice Misra directed the next hearing to be held on March 16.
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Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleges ₹1 crore bribe offer for Padma award during UPA regime
New Delhi: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar has alleged that he was offered a bribe of ₹1 crore for a Padma award during the Congress-led UPA regime in 2010. Chandrasekhar claimed that the offer was made in recognition of his contributions to the telecom sector.
The BJP leader made this revelation on January 5 through a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing the UPA government of corrupt practices in awarding civilian honours. The Padma Awards, which include Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri, are among India’s highest civilian awards, recognising excellence in various fields such as arts, education, literature, and science.
Chandrasekhar's allegations came shortly after US President Joe Biden conferred the Medal of Freedom on several dignitaries, including billionaire philanthropist George Soros, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and football legend Lionel Messi.
There has been no immediate response or denial from any members of the former UPA government regarding the allegations.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a Rajya Sabha MP from 2006 to 2024, served as the Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship from 2021 to 2024.
