Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Oct 14: The Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Ravindra Vithalrao Ghuge, on Wednesday reprimanded the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a protocol lapse while submitting a progress report on its investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to illegal real estate constructions in West Bengal.
The CBI submitted the progress report before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai. However, the Chief Justice took exception to the agency's counsel submitting only one copy of the report before the court.
Questioning the lapse, Chief Justice Ghuge asked whether the CBI was unaware that a Division Bench of a high court comprises two judges. He observed that such a lack of awareness was unacceptable from an investigative agency of the CBI's stature.
The Division Bench subsequently refused to accept the report and directed the central agency to submit the required documents along with sufficient copies in accordance with the prescribed rules and protocol.
The court made it clear that the report must be submitted in the proper manner and in compliance with the High Court's administrative procedures.
The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for December this year. The Bench strictly directed the CBI to submit a detailed and final report at that time, ensuring compliance with all applicable rules and procedures.
The reprimand has also raised questions about the agency's handling of procedural requirements in the investigation.
In September this year, the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice had handed over to the CBI an investigation into allegations concerning more than 50 illegal multi-storey buildings in the Rajabazar, Beleghata, Maniktala and Canal East Road areas of Kolkata.
Following the court's order, CBI officials began collecting information about the buildings and examining the legal documents relating to flats in the affected areas.
The agency has also summoned records pertaining to 42 identified illegal buildings from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.