A division bench of Justice BH Marlapalle and Justice UD Salvi observed, 'This seems to be a joke. You are virtually choking corruption matters and defeating the entire purpose of the act.'
The Bombay high court on Friday directed the chief secretary of the state government to file a detailed affidavit about why sanction has not been given to prosecute a former director of the Maharashtra Vansanshodhan Sanstha (Chandrapur), under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for the last six years.
A division bench of Justice BH Marlapalle and Justice UD Salvi observed, “This seems to be a joke. You are virtually choking corruption matters and defeating the entire purpose of the act.”
The observations were made by the bench while hearing a petition filed by Reenu Singh, wife of the former director Naveen Singh, who has been charged by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) as an abettor in the disproportionate assets case against her husband. She has moved the court seeking to quash the FIR on the grounds of delay in filing the charge sheet.
As per an affidavit filed by ACB officer P Kale, the complaint was lodged against Singh in 2003. After an inquiry, it came to light that the accused and his wife had amassed assets to the tune of Rs2.37 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The affidavit further states that on February 14, 2008, the ACB forwarded the investigation report, along with the proposal for sanction under the provisions of the act, to the secretary of the department of revenue and forest, which is still pending.
Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol said, “There should be some guidelines framed to ensure the process of granting sanction under the act is expedited.”
However, the bench said, “How many guidelines and in how many situations should it be formed?” The bench has adjourned the hearing till July 18.
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