New Delhi, December 13
In a blow to the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme Court today refused to recall its 2007 order for a CBI probe into the charges of corruption against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his sons, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Prateek Yadav.

The CBI would go ahead with its investigation and submit its preliminary inquiry report to the trial court dealing with corruption cases, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice HL Dattu ruled while dismissing their review petitions.

The Bench, however, recalled its order pertaining to Akhilesh’s wife Dimple and restrained the CBI from proceeding against her. Since she was not holding any public office at that time, the allegation relating to accumulation of wealth disproportionate to her declared income could not be entertained, it clarified.

The apex court had ordered a CBI probe against them on a PIL filed by an advocate, Vishwanath Chaturvedi, reportedly a Congress leader.

Subsequently, the SP leaders filed petitions seeking review of the SC order. They also contended that the SC had no power to pass such orders directing a CBI investigation.

Normally, review petitions are heard in the judges’ chambers in the SC. Deviating from this practice, the Bench heard the arguments in the case in the open court. The Yadavs contended that the PIL was nothing but a political conspiracy to harass them.