The Supreme Court today ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a reply within one week on the bail petition of Roop Singh Yadav, a retired engineer of the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department, who was arrested on corruption charges in the Gomti river front project.
While noting that the accused has remained in jail since November, 2020, the Bench of Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Dipankar Datta told the Counsel appearing for CBI that he was a ‘seasoned’ warrior and should understand such things.
The Counsel representing the accused apprised the Apex Court that Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave was not available to argue the case.
The national agency then sought time to file reply to the bail plea, opposing it on the ground that the former engineer had been involved in a multi-crore scam and was also accused of money laundering.
The lawyer appearing for CBI further said that the conduct of Roop Singh had been abysmal and that he had forged documents related to the case.
After the national agency was granted one week to file a reply, the other side sought some time to file a rejoinder on the same.
The Supreme Court then directed to list the matter for further hearing after the pleadings were completed.
The anti-corruption unit of CBI had arrested Roop Singh in November, 2021 on charges of financial irregularities in the Gomti Riverfront Project, while he was part of it.
CBI had registered a case against Yadav and other Chief Engineers in November, 2017 on charges of forgery and cheating.
The Yogi Adityanath-led state government had constituted a committee in March, 2017, headed by Retd Justice Alok Kumar Singh of Allahabad High Court, which stipulated a report on financial irregularities in the project.
Following this, an FIR was registered at the Gomtinagar police station. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also filed a criminal case against the accused and attached the properties of Roop Singh.
(Case title: Roop Singh Yadav vs CBI)