India
Supreme Court directs no coercive action on Punjab CBI FIR
The Hindu··12h ago
The Supreme Court on Monday directed that no coercive action be taken on a CBI FIR. The FIR is linked to corruption allegations involving the Officer on Special Duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The bench issued notice on the state's petition but refused to stay the FIR. The FIR names Rajbir Singh Ghuman and five other accused.
Prism
What It Means For You
- The CBI cannot take coercive steps on the basis of the FIR for now, though the FIR itself stays in force.
- Advocate Nikhil Saraf, whose petition led to the High Court order, was represented by senior advocate Dama Seshadri Naidu, who told the court his client was facing threats from the State and sought protection.
- The Punjab government's appeal against the High Court order is now before the Supreme Court, which issued notice.
What's Happening
- The bench said, "We are not staying the FIR. We are saying no coercive steps may be taken."
- Senior advocate Vikas Singh appeared for the State of Punjab. Justice Sheel Nagu had recused himself from hearing the appeal on October 9.
- The High Court had directed the CBI to probe allegations raised by advocate Nikhil Saraf and to submit a report within two months.
What the High Court Ordered
- On October 5, a High Court Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra said a fair and transparent investigation was required.
- The allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate include corruption in transfers and postings, policy manipulation and cash for tenders.
- The State argues that the High Court order treated information shared under Section 66(2) of the PMLA as a direction making registration inevitable, contrary to the 2022 Vijay Madanlal Choudhary decision.
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