The Delhi high court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation not to arrest Bhupendra Singh Patel alias Rahul and his two associates Arvind Vijaymohan and Praveen Jain, who conducted a sting operation against former Union minister Dilip Singh Judeo, till further orders.
The order came from Justice R S Sodhi on their petition seeking quashing of a first information report registered against them by the CBI.
The court, however, asked the three to cooperate with the CBI and adjourned the hearing to February 17.
Judeo and his personal Secretary Natwar Rateria are also accused in this case.
According to the CBI, Rahul was working with the Chhattisgarh-based Aakash Channel while Vijaymohan helped him fix recording equipment in the hotel room where Judeo allegedly received money.
Jain's help was allegedly utilised to serve drinks and snacks to the "guests" in the said hotel room.
At the CBI's request, the court asked Rahul to appear before the probe agency on January 15 and Vijaymohan and Jain on the following two days.
The court asked the CBI not to slap any other charges against the trio.
"Don't harass him (Rahul). He is the man who has done your job. Enhance your image. You are the prime investigating agency of the country," Justice Sodhi observed and wondered how he could be made accused in the case.
While denying the allegations of harassment, CBI counsel H J S Ahluwalia said the three were guilty of abetting corruption. "We are trying to find out the truth," he told the court.