SC agrees to hear plea on demanding FIR against former PM

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear Public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to register an FIR against former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others whose names were mentioned by an Italian court in its verdict.

The bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh issued notices to the Centre and the CBI seeking their response on whether the probe could be taken over from the CBI and given to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the apex court.

The petition was filed by advocate M L Sharma.

What petitioner said:

• The probe agency was not taking action against high-profile politicians despite their names featuring in the order passed by an Italian court.
• This will be the third scam that took place under the UPA which the SC will inquire into after the 2G spectrum and the coal mine allocation scam.
• The lawyer had filed a similar petition in 2013 seeking an independent probe into the scam but the court then dismissed his plea.