For months the CBI sought the prosecution of Mayawati in the Taj Corridor case. The central government changed. Now, the CBI closes the case because ...
For months the CBI sought the prosecution of Mayawati in the Taj Corridor case. The central government changed. Now, the CBI closes the case because of insufficient evidence. Mayawati appreciates the central government. She may now support the Congress in UP.
The Kanchi Shankaracharya got bail because the police presented insufficient evidence to detain him. Next day, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha replaced the state's police commissioner and home secretary. The Tamil Nadu police leaked to TV channels a videotape of the Kanchi seer being questioned by the police. In the videotape, the Shankaracharya admitted to the police that he had knowledge of the letters written against him by the murder victim and had agonised over them. But he said: "I never said beat him or kill him, I only expressed my anguish. But it brought such an extreme reaction." This suggests his anguish did provoke murder.
So, is the Shankaracharya a victim of vendetta? Or is a part of the administration protecting him? Either way, the judicial process becomes farcical. But don't worry. We should get the truth about the Shankaracharya within the next 50 years.
Because in another murder case, the court on January 10 eventually framed charges against Union cabinet minister Shibu Soren. The murder occurred about three decades ago. The next hearing will be on March 22. By a coincidence, the timing of the charges framed was convenient. The seat-sharing negotiations among UPA allies for the Jharkhand assembly elections were held at the same time. Not surprisingly, Shibu Soren loyally stuck with the Congress that rules the central government and not with Laloo Yadav and the Left, who were trying to marginalise it.
The Telgi probe proceeds along predicted lines, too. Readers would recall this column pointing out earlier how people under investigation in that case were promoted to key posts. A few days ago the CBI sought permission from the Maharashtra government to file chargesheets against five senior officials connected to the case. Till the moment of writing this column, the permission has not been granted.
Why not? Surely not because Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is connected to the case? Or because Maharashtra cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal is connected to the case? Or because Maharashtra governor S.M. Krishna is connected to the case?
Alas, people are so cynical! To remove cynicism, the Manmohan Singh government should intervene. After all, the CBI is under central rule. Oops—one forgets! S.M. Krishna and Vilasrao Deshmukh are leaders in the same Congress, aren't they?
Moreover, the law must take its own course!
(Puri can be reached at rajinderpuri2000@yahoo.com)