The Centre on Tuesday filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in connection with the 2G spectrum case denying allegations that the Law Minister, Mr Salman Khurshid, was “interfering” in the probe in the Essar-Loop matter.
“…the applicants cannot assume the role of self-appointed supervisors of investigations on the basis of their own suspicion and presumption that everyone is corrupt… No department of the Government can interfere with the ongoing investigation of the CBI or Enforcement Directorate,” said the counter affidavit filed on behalf of the Centre.
“It is emphatically denied that the Law Minister is publicly giving clean chit to Essar/Loop. The entire matter is in the domain of the CBI and the court, which will take an independent view of all aspects of the matter,” the Government said.
The Supreme Court on January 5 had issued notice to the CBI and the Government on an application by the NGO ‘the Centre for Public Interest Litigation' which made these allegations against Mr Khurshid.
The NGO, represented by advocate Mr Prashant Bhushan, had also alleged that the CBI chargesheet in the Essar-Loop matter had left out the role of the public servants.
The allegation against Essar is that though it had substantial stake in Vodafone Essar, it set up Loop Telecom as a front company or an ‘alter ego', in violation of the existing norms to illegally obtain additional spectrum. Essar has denied all charges.