Govt opposes Lalit's appointment as prosecutor in 2G case

Govt opposes Lalit's appointment as prosecutor in 2G case

Government was at loggerheads with the CBI in the Supreme Court on Tuesday over the agency's decision to appoint senior advocate U U Lalit as special public prosecutor in the 2G spectrum case, saying he did not meet the eligibility criteria for the task.

Asked by the apex court to issue notification for the appointment by today, Government raised technical objections to Lalit's appointment saying that he should have worked under the state or the Union government for at least seven years to be eligible as the case has been filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Attorney General G E Vahanvati told a bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly that under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the special prosecutor has to be working under the state or the Union government for at least seven years.

Senior Advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, contended that Lalit had been in the lawyer's panel for the Maharastra government and the Centre for 15 years and five years respectively and he fulfills the criteria.

But the Attorney General submitted that being in the panel is not sufficient and one should be the government's standing counsel for seven years and sought one week time from the court to come out with other name for the post.

The court also said that the Act does not mention the word "Standing counsel" and the objection raised was highly technical which should be given "reasonable" interpretation.

The bench, which said that Lalit is one of the most competent persons for the case, allowed the government to make its stand clear on the issue by Friday.

Vahanvati said there were some apprehensions that Lalit's appointment as the SPP could be challenged at any stage and it may derail the entire prosecution of the case.

The CBI has registered cases against former Telecom Minister A Raja and others under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.