SC refuses to stay trial against Rao

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stay the trial in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case involving former prime minister P N Narasimha Rao and seven others.

The court, however, reissued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation on Rao's special leave petition challenging the Delhi high court judgment. The latter upheld the CBI special judge's decision to frame charges against the accused.

Passing this order, a three-judge bench comprising Justices M L Mukherjee, S P Kurdukar and K T Thomas fixed October 21 for the final hearing of the SLPs.

Besides Rao, the other petitioners include former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, former Union minister, captain Satish Sharma, and former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily.

Earlier the court expressed its reservation about the contention of Rao's counsel that Article 105 of the Constitution barred any court from proceeding against an MP for his conduct during voting in Parliament.

Justices Mukherjee and Thomas pointedly asked the counsel whether the bar under Article 105 would be available to an MP who threatens his colleague with dire consequences for voting in a particular manner and whether he will be tried under the criminal laws.

The counsel replied in the affirmative, to which the judges expressed their reservation.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Rao's fate sealed
Reverse for Rao