Solicitor General Tushar Mehta Today getting furious over Prashant Bhushan’s statement against the former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said, “Your Majesty has been taken for granted…he has made a habit to accuse every person and institution.”
The bench led by the Chief Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramanian was hearing petition filed by National Confederation of Officers Association of Central Public Sector Enterprises alleging corrupt practices in divesting government shares in Hindustan Zinc Ltd during the NDA regime.
In 2002, the Central government had decided to divest its controlling shares in Hindustan Zinc Ltd. The PIL was filed in 2014 by an association of officers related to the PSU firm. Alleging illegalities in the disinvestment to bestow benefits to a few by undervaluing the shares, the plea asked for a CBI probe into the deal and restraining the government from further divesting its share.
Earlier, the bench had asked Mehta to appraise the court whether it can provide a copy of its closure report to the complainant which has alleged corrupt practices in the deal.
However, Bhushan appearing for the petitioners submitted that no justification has been given to the point that even after the recommendations of the all the officers why a regular case was not made out.
Bhushan further contended that,
“The then Attorney General said, it was not required, and it was later found that he was the lawyer for Vedanta.”
Whereas, Mehta in his contention stated,
“Your majesty has been taken for granted…don’t abuse every individual or institution…Your Lordship must stop this person. He has made it a habit to accuse every person and institution. It is not a public platform or public rally.”
The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on April 13 stating that it will read the status report, when Senior Advocate Harish Salve commenting over the heated argument said, “I cannot match with the yelling brigade.”