Bengal moves SC on Narada CBI probe

TT, New Delhi, March 20: The Mamata Banerjee government today approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe into the Narada case.

Trinamul leaders Saugata Roy and Subhendu Adhikari moved separate appeals against the March 17 order.

The appeals termed the order "erroneous" and "contrary to law", saying it was "liable to be struck down". The state argued the order had been passed in "haste" despite Bengal police taking all necessary steps to solve the case.

Surprisingly, the state did not seek urgent hearing of its appeal. Normally, a party seeking a stay on any proceedings seeks urgent listing of its case through a special mention before the Chief Justice's court.

Several counsel representing the state were present in Chief Justice J.S. Khehar's court throughout the day today but made no such plea.

A senior lawyer who was attached to the case in the high court said: "The senior counsel in the Supreme Court advised the state not to seek early hearing of the appeal. They said such a plea might have an adverse effect, and asked the government representatives to wait till Wednesday and see what the CBI was doing."

Two petitioners who had filed PILs that led to the high court order moved caveats to ensure they would be heard when the appeals come up.