2G scam: Why govt is opposed to UU Lalit

The Centre has opposed the appointment of Uday U Lalit as a special prosecutor in the case involving Rs1.76 lakh crore loot of the exchequer by a “gang” of some politicians, a few bureaucrats and a handful of telecom companies. There seems to be more than that meets the eye in this opposition.

The Supreme Court has favoured Uday U Lalit and the Central Bureau of Investigation is okay with his name. However, the Enforcement Directorate and government’s top attorneys have objected to Lalit’s name.

The government has come up with a technical point that Lalit does not enjoy requisite experience as a standing counsel for the agency or a state which is specified under the Money Laundering (prevention) Act.

Besides prevention of corruption law, jailed minister A Raja and his cronies have been charge sheeted under this anti-money trafficking law. The Supreme Court says the objection is too technical to be accepted for a lawyer who has vast experience.

The UPA government, which shed all inhibitions in justifying the appointment of a charge sheeted person — PJ Thomas — as head of the Central Vigilance Commission by saying ‘impeccable integrity’ could not be the criteria for choosing corruption watchdog body chief, has fortunately not raised integrity point in Lalit’s case.

The reasons not given by the government to oppose the appointment seem to be important that the reasons given.
It’s well-known that Lalit appeared for actor Salman Khan in the black buck poaching case. That is not a problem. That he appeared for former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh in the corruption case may also be not a problem.

Or for that matter, it’s not worrisome for the government that he appeared for former cricketer and BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, in the culpable homicide not amounting to murder case.

There is a huge list of important persons who were defended by Lalit.

What is likely to be causing sleepless nights to the CBI and the government is that Lalit represents the black money king pin Hasan Ali. This absconding fish was arrested when the top court slammed the agency over its inertia.

He had also appeared for former Gujarat home minister Amit Shah, who is charge sheeted for hatching a conspiracy with state’s top cops to stage an encounter to eliminate Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Prajapti.

Would the government say so openly and get someone else to replace Lalit in the 2G scam case?