Vineet Narain 'identifies' source of pressure on Supreme Court judges

Vineet Narain, who had brought the Jain hawala scam to public notice, on Thursday "identified" the man who approached the Supreme Court bench handling the Jain hawala case and tried to influence the judges as a US-based non-resident Indian, Dr Jolly Bansal

Addressing a press conference, Narain said he now intended to bring a contempt of court action against Dr Bansal and the Jain brothers at whose behest Dr Bansal was allegedly acting.

Narain has applied to Attorney General Ashok Desai for consent to make a motion to the Supreme Court of India for taking appropriate action within 24 hours on the apprehension that Dr Bansal would leave the country.

In his application, Narain said Chief Justice J S Verma had indicated clearly that he knew the identity of the person who had tried to approach the three judges hearing the case.

Subsequently, the Supreme Court Bar Association passed a resolution on July 22 condemning the interference with the functioning of the highest court and requesting the Chief Justice of India to take contempt of court action against the person concerned.

The issue also formed the subject matter of a debate in Parliament on July 29 when several parliamentarians demanded that the government initiate contempt proceedings against the person concerned.

Narain has made a separate written submission to amicus curiae Anil Divan on July 29 saying the petitioner was booked on British Airways flight leaving the country after midnight on July 30.

According to Narain, the booking was subsequently cancelled although the amicus curiae never intimated to him whether his submission was brought to the notice of the Supreme Court judges.

"I am left with no option except to approach your lordships directly", Narain said in a submission made to the Bench on Thursday.

EARLIER STORY:
Supreme Court under pressure in hawala case