The court listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday before single bench headed by Justice R S Sodhi, who last week had admitted for hearing an appeal by former union minister Buta Singh, also sentenced in the case to three years imprisonment by a special court in New Delhi on October 13. CBI counsel A K Dutt said that an advance copy of the appeal petition had been served on the agency.
Associates of Rao's counsel R K Anand said that the petition challenged the trial court order on the ground that the entire judgement was based on confessional statement of approver Shailendra Mahato, whose statement could not be relied upon. There was no other evidence against the former prime minister, they said.

Buta Singh had also challenged the trial court order on the same ground.
While admitting Buta Singh's appeal, the court had asked CBI to file its reply by November 7. Bureau Report