The alleged swindling of over Rs4,000 crore of public money by former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda today figured in the supreme court which wryly suggested CBI go after big fish rather than small ones.
The remarks made in a ligher vein by justice Markandeya Katju sent the packed court hall into peals of laughter.
"Bhai pakadna hai to badey machli kho pakdo, Madhu Koda Chaar Hazar Karod! (smile). Chhote log ko pakad kar kyon unko barbaad kartey ho, (If you want to catch, catch the big fish. Why destroy small fries by arresting them?)" justice Katju told solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam appearing for CBI.
The remarks came when the judge was considering a plea plea by accused Ganapathi Ramnath, former general manager of the public sector HPCL allegedly involved in the infamous Rs450 crore Bihar bitumen scam of early 1990s in which several ministers were allegedly involved, to quash the case against him. The bench dismissed the plea.
Senior counsel Harish Salve and counsel Shishir Pinaki, appearing for the accused, claimed the 72-year old ex-official retired 13 years ago and it would be inhuman to make him stand trial for a conspiracy in which he was falsely implicated.
It was pleaded that Ramnath was now staying in Chennai and it would not be proper for him to go to Patna to face the trial.
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