Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 12, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/pioneer-news/top-story/12707-sc-takes-exception-to-khurshids-remarks.html
The Supreme Court today took exception to
Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid's reported statement that putting businessmen
behind bars will hamper investments in the country, saying if true it is "disturbing".
A bench of justices G S Singhvi and H L Dattu
asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Haren Rawal to clarify the minister's
statement, while hearing the bail pleas of 2G case accused - Unitech Managing
Director Sanjay Chandra and Swan Telecom's Director Vinod Goenka.
"It appears as if we are interested in
keeping these businessmen behind bars. Is this news report/statement and what
has been reported in newspapers totally correct ? It was in the headline of
a leading newspaper. If it is correct, it is disturbing for us," the
bench told Rawal, who was opoosing the bail pleas.
Appearing for Goenka, senior counsel Mukul
Rohatgi told the bench that the statement was published in a leading newspaper
and it is correct.
The bench wanted to know from Rawal whether
he was supporting the stand taken by the minister as reported in the newspaper.
The bench also expressed surprise over reports
that the CBI will not oppose the bail pleas of DMK's Kanimozhi and certain
other accused in the scam case.
However, the ASG said it was not correct and
he has the instruction to oppose the bail pleas of the accused persons.
During the hearing, the bench said that there
are public relation officers in the CBI and was it not appropriate for them
to contradict any misleading news item.
The bench said that the issue before it was
a serious matter on which the hearing has been going on for over a month.
"We want to know is there a change in
your stand after reading the newspaper report. We thought that Rawal will
come out with a change in stand and we are surprised," the bench said.
However, the bench said it is very clear even
if it is the stand of the government, these things will not affect the proceedings
of the court.
"If you have such instructions, tell
us. It will not affect us." However, the ASG said, "I have instructions
to oppose the bail."
