Supreme Court issues notice to Centre on Mayawati's petition

New Delhi, May 15: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to the Centre on a petition filed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati seeking to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against her in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan declined to pass any interim order and posted the matter for further hearing on July 14.

The court also sought the CBI's response on Mayawati's petition.

The CBI had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Mayawati on October 5, 2003 after the apex court had ordered the agency to investigate the Taj Heritage Corridor Scam.

The CBI has been probing the case for the past three years, under the Supreme Court's direct monitoring. In November 2006, it set aside the CBI's status report seeking the closure of the case.

The Taj Corridor Project was proposed to give a facelift to areas surrounding Agra's major monuments along the Yamuna. Included in the venture was a blueprint for a swanky shopping mall.

The plan was put forward by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and consultancy firm German Technical Cooperation in 2001. It was part of a series of proposals collectively referred to as the 'Environment Management Plan - Agra'. Under the project, the CPCB had conceptualised a heritage corridor covering five historical monuments, including Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Ram Bagh, Etmad-ud-Daula's tomb and Chini ka Rauza.

All this was in disregard of the guidelines laid down by the Environment Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The grandiose scheme fell to pieces when it came under media scrutiny in mid-June 2003.


Copyright Asian News International