New Delhi, Nov 02: CBI is contemplating challenging the Allahabad High Court order against the arrest of six people including former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in the controversial Rs 175 crore Taj heritage corridor project. CBI sources said that there was a need to challenge this order as it would otherwise become a precedence in future cases and the agency would not be able to arrest anyone involved in a corruption case.
The sources said that the order of the division bench of Lucknow was being studied by the directorate of prosecution and a petition was likely to be finalised soon and submitted before the Supreme Court.
On October 31, the Allahabad High Court had stayed the arrest of former Uttar Pradesh environment minister Nasemuddin Siddiqui, former up environment secretary R K Sharma and chairman and managing director of NPCC S C Bali saying they would not be arrested till the conclusion of the probe unless the arrest was absolutely necessary.
Earlier, the high court had stayed the arrest of former chief minister Mayawati, her principal secretary P L Punia and the then environment secretary V K Gupta in the same case.
The CBI sources said that sometimes it was necessary for the agency to arrest an accused for custodial questioning for verification of some evidences, which needed their corroboration.
Bureau Report