Court for prosecution of SP Gupta, allows Delhi govt's plea

A Delhi court today cleared decks for prosecution of hotelier SP Gupta by allowing the city government to withdraw its earlier plea to seek quashing of three FIRs against him allegedly at the behest of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

"The court is of the considered view that nothing preclude prosecution from withdrawing its earlier plea for withdrawal of prosecution," Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi said.

The Delhi government, which earlier sought withdrawal of cases against Gupta allegedly at behest of Chidambaram and the Home Ministry, later took a u-turn and wanted to prosecute him following a furore in and out of the Parliament on the issue.

"Application of State dated December 12, 2011 (to pursue cases against SP Gupta) stands allowed," it said.

The city government, on December 15, moved a fresh plea seeking withdrawal of its earlier application in which it had favoured withdrawal of FIRs saying "no case was made out".

The court also rejected plea of Gupta that complainant VLS Finance has no right to be heard and fixed the matter for hearing on March 7.