SIT probe into cases against Anil Deshmukh: Supreme Court dismisses plea by Maharashtra Government alleging CBI is not "impartial"

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A Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundaresh today dismissed a plea by Maharashtra government, seeking formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for investigation of corruption cases against Anil Deshmukh on the ground that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently conducting the investigating into the issue(s), is not impartial.

When the matter came up for hearing, CA Sundaram, Sr. Adv, appearing for the State Government submitted that the present director of CBI was at a point in time responsible for posting and transfer of police officials in state. He further submitted that there cannot be an impartial probe given this situation.

Justice SK Kaul at this point in time remarked, “We have just held that the matters pertaining to Mr.Param Bir Singh be transferred to the CBI, we have laid down the reasons there.”

On March 24, the Top Court had handed over the investigation into the cases against Maharashtra's former top cop Param Bir Singh to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundresh had then remarked, "The murky churning between the then Home Minister of Maharashtra and the then Police Commissioner has given rise to this 'battle royale' and these unfortunate proceedings."

Further, in December last year, the Maharashtra government had approached the Bombay High Court seeking similar relief's, however, the court had dismissed the plea noting that, “Government’s plea was an attempt to scuttle the ongoing probe against Anil Deshmukh.”

The Bombay High Court held that “In conclusion, we find merit in the charge of the respondent CBI that this petition is nothing but an extension of the stand of the petitioner (State of Maharashtra) to scuttle investigation.”

The Supreme Court on hearing the submission of Sundaram dismissed the plea as Justice Kaul made it clear that he did not want to interfere in the matter.

Case title: State of Maharashtra Vs CBI