The Allahabad High Court has called for responses from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) on a plea seeking investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The matter was heard by a Division Bench of the Lucknow Bench comprising Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan and Justice Zafeer Ahmad on a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution by Karnataka-based BJP functionary S. Vignesh Shishir. The petitioner alleged that Rahul Gandhi and certain members of his family were in possession of assets disproportionate to their known and disclosed sources of income, warranting a comprehensive probe by central investigative agencies.
During the course of proceedings, counsel appearing for the CBI submitted that the complaint lodged by the petitioner had already been received by the agency and an appropriate response would be filed within eight weeks. The ED similarly informed the Court that the allegations raised in the complaint could be examined in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Taking note of these submissions, the Bench observed that once the complaint had been placed before the competent authorities, the allegations contained therein may be verified in accordance with law and the agencies concerned were at liberty to undertake such action as may be permissible within the statutory framework governing their functioning.
The High Court also permitted the petitioner to implead additional governmental authorities, including the Department of Personnel and Training, the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, holding that their presence was necessary for complete and effective adjudication of the issues raised in the petition.
Accordingly, notices were directed to be issued to all respondents, with the Court granting eight weeks’ time for filing of counter affidavits as well as status reports indicating the progress, if any, made on the petitioner’s complaint.
The SFIO, through its counsel, sought time to place its stand on record regarding the allegations levelled in the petition. The Bench, however, clarified that it had not entered into the merits of the allegations and that the maintainability of the writ petition itself would be considered after pleadings are completed by all parties.
The Court directed that the documents and material placed on record by the petitioner shall remain preserved in sealed cover custody before the Registry until the next date of hearing. The matter has now been posted for further hearing on July 20.
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