Rao gets notice in St Kitts case

The Delhi high court on Friday issued notices to former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao and former Union minister K K Tewary on a Central Bureau of Investigation plea against their discharge by the trial court in the St Kitts forgery case.

Justice Anil Dev Singh directed the two to reply to the notice on or before October 15, when the court will hear a similar petition filed by the People's Union of Civil Liberties against Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke's order.

Senior CBI counsel P R Vakil stated that the trial court's order should be set aside on the ground that it was illegal and had ignored evidence.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court on Friday put off yet again formal framing of charges against Rao and 19 others in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs bribery case after three of the accused said they had gone in appeal to the Supreme Court.

Acceding the request of the accused for adjournment, the judge took a serious view of the absence of as many as six accused on ''frivolous grounds'' despite the fact that charges were to be framed.

Among those absent were former Union home minister Buta Singh, three JMM leaders Shibu Soren, Simon Marandi and Suraj Mandal, D K Adikeshavalu and Ram Saran Yadav.

The judge directed all the accused and their counsel to be present in the court on September 25.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Judge blasts Rao, finds 'substantial evidence' in MPs's bribery case
Rao gets court notice in St Kitts case
Rao discharged in St Kitts forgery case
Court frames charges, Chandra Swami pleads not guilty
Pay no attention to JMM leader's statement: Rao
Court frames charges against Rao, 19 others in JMM MPs bribery case