Supreme Court denies CBI Director’s plea restraining media

After Prashant Bhusan had claimed that he is in receipt of “very disturbing and explosive material”, i.e. the entry register of Director's residence. The Bench headed by Justice Dattu today said that it had gone through the materials placed before it but can its take cognizance only when the same are placed on the record. The Court said “We have gone through the documents. We cannot take cognisance of this until it is placed on record,” it then asked Mr. Prashant Bhushan to file an affidavit and annex the materials with the same.

Meanwhile, Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, raised questions on the authenticity and source of the documents. He submitted that the media may be stopped from covering this issue as right to privacy and reputation was involved here. However, the Bench dismissed this plea.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh also submitted that the allegations made against the CBI Director are patently false and also questioned as to how the documents got leaked despite the order of the Supreme Court that the same should be submitted to it in a sealed envelope.

He submitted to the Court that Mr. Bhushan should be asked about the source of documents.

However, the matter will now be given an early hearing and will now be heard on Monday at 10am, instead of normal 1030 am.