New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it will pass an order on continuance of Deputy Director of ED Rajeshwar Singh in the investigation of 2G spectrum scam only after hearing him.
"We will hear him if he wants to continue or not. After hearing him we will pass the order," a bench comprising justices HL Dattu, SA Bobde and AM Sapre said, while posting the matter for hearing on Thursday.
The issue of Singh was raised by BJP leader Subramanium Swamy, who said that despite the apex court's May 1 order he has not been reinstated into the investigation and it was not known "what powerful element are working" that he is out of the probe.
Swamy was supported by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who said money laundering probe associated with the 2G scam is yet to complete and Singh had earlier sought to recuse himself from the investigation as attempts were being made to destroy the case.
Swamy was one of the petitioners on whose plea the 2G licences were scrapped by the apex court which is monitoring the probe by the CBI and the ED. Senior advocate KK Venugopal, appearing for the ED, said the case was different and placed before the bench a note in which Singh expressed his desire to go on study leave.
The bench perused the copy of his letter written to ED in which he said he would be available for the probe whenever required. "Because of his option he has been released by the authority," the bench said. However, it said since it concerns an officer it would like to hear him.
It was reported that Singh had taken a year-long 'study leave' apparently owing to lack of clarity over his continuance in the agency. During the hearing, the bench noted that he has proceeded on leave to pursue a degree in law. The apex court on May 1 had ordered that Singh be not taken away from the ongoing probe in 2G cases and directed that he will continue with the investigation till completion of trial. The order was passed after it was alleged that Singh was being transferred to his parent cadre in Uttar Pradesh.
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