SIT, STF chiefs to discuss FIR against ex Madhya Pradesh CM

BHOPAL: Chief of Madhya Pradesh special task force (STF) Sudhir Sahi and chairman of special investigation team (SIT) monitoring MPPEB scam investigation Justice Chandresh Bhushan would meet on Saturday to decide over FIR against ex-chief minister.
Madhya Pradesh high court had on Monday pulled up STF for its failure to comply with SIT recommendations which include FIR against former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and a senior IAS officer among others for their alleged role in the scam.
STF differs with Justice Bhushan’s recommendation on grounds that former chief minister did not make any financial gain by recommending names of candidates to MPPEB racketeers. Reportedly, SIT is of the opinion that if ex-CM is not culpable, others who were arrested on similar charges should also be set free.
“We read the report submitted by STF on steps taken to comply with the direction given by SIT from time to time, with justification. However, it is noticed head of STF has not recorded his satisfaction on effectiveness of steps taken by concerned investigating officer despite directions by SIT during the relevant period,” court said on Monday.
Counsel for the state tried convincing court that head of STF is already compiling information pertaining to directions given by SIT and is likely to interact with chairman of SIT before Saturday to resolve pending issues.
Court agreed to it and posted the next hearing on May 5 with directions to submit report of the meeting from STF and SIT.
STF had submitted a 75-page break-up related to compliances on SIT recommendations in a sealed envelope. SIT had submitted seventh status report before the court on April 10 and the 15-page report comprises documents related to communication made to STF.
According to sources, SIT asked STF to register FIR against three ‘dignitaries’. SIT also gave details and status of investigation of 27 of 55 cases, in which final charge-sheet is yet to be filed. It was then that Chief Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice Alok Aradhe had called upon advocate general to give a breakup of directions issued by SIT to STF in those cases with explanation of STF as to why those directions have not been complied with till submission of 7th report.