Kochi: Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium
on Tuesday informed Kerala High Court that the Centre was prepared
to order a CBI probe into the lottery case provided the state
government supplies materials in prescribed performa.
In response, Kerala Government agreed to furnish
necessary details within two weeks.
The Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of Home
Minister P Chidambaram and Central Government, denied
allegations regarding involvement of Chidambaram and his wife
Nalini Chidambaram in the lottery case.
Subramanium said Chidambaram was a senior lawyer at one
point of time. He had nothing to do with the case after he
became a Minister. Senior advocates were instructed by
counsels and have no relationship with clients, he said.
He said the Centre was prepared to hand over the case to
CBI without insisting for the mandatory notification. Director
of CBI has been apprised of the situation, he said.
The Solicitor General complemented Chief Minister VS
Achuthanandan for his initiative in the matter.
A Division Bench consisting Chief Justice J Chelameswar
and PR Ramachandran Menon reserved orders on the petitions.
A batch of petitions had been filed seeking CBI probe
into conduct of other state lotteries in Kerala. They had
alleged, among other things, that Chidambaram and his wife
as lawyers had connection with the lottery case.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, April 05, 2011, 22:21