Author: Sunetra Choudhury
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: August 23, 2007
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070023667&ch=8/23/20
07%209:07:00%20PM
When Shibu Soren walks out of jail he may
want to thank his former colleagues in the government.
Sources have told NDTV that the government
may be more to blame than the CBI for the former union minister's acquittal.
In just eight months there have been four
different prosecutors in the case. It is up to the law ministry to appoint
a lawyer but no single lawyer has handled the case.
Initially, Additional Solicitor-General Amarendra
Sharan handled the case. He successfully opposed Soren's bail plea but was
removed. Two other lawyers followed in quick succession.
In May, the court told public prosecutor RM
Tiwari: ''Don't give up your case like this. As a Public Prosecutor you fill
the gap in the case.''
The latest change of lawyers took place two
months ago when Sidharth Luthra was hired.
This was a crucial time as it was just before
final arguments in the case were heard.
Some lawyers involved with the case say at times they were not even given
time to prepare their brief. Luthra refused to speak, only saying, ''Please
ask CBI. I have done my job in the case.''
With none of the prosecutors willing to speak
after the judgement the CBI was left to face the heat.
''We really tried to do our best in the case,''
said G Mohanty, CBI spokesman.
It is the law ministry, which decides the
CBI's lawyers and changing lawyers certainly weakened this case.
CBI insiders totally deny that they are to
blame. They say it was their investigation, which got Soren convicted in the
first place, so much so that he was even denied bail.|