CBI can lodge FIR in Harish Rawat sting case: High court

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand high court said on Monday that that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was open to register an FIR in an alleged sting case involving former chief minister Harish Rawat, but the fate of the same would be subject to the final decision in the writ petition, said Sandeep Tandon, counsel of CBI.

The court ruled this after reading the preliminary report of the investigating agency in the 2016 CD sting case, in which Congress leader Harish Rawat was allegedly shown striking a deal with a journalist to bring nine rebel legislators back to the party. CBI submitted its preliminary report to the high court in a sealed envelope.

The single bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia heard the matter while senior lawyer Kapil Sibal appeared as counsel of Harish Rawat.

Rakesh Thapliyal, counsel representing state government in the matter, said the court on Monday read the CBI’s report and then said the CBI can register the FIR, but the action under the FIR will be subject to the final decision in the petition.

“The court said the validity of the notifications regarding CBI probe in 2016 when the Uttarakhand was under governor rule will be examined in coming hearings,” he said.

The hearing in the case continued before and after lunch.

After the hearing was over, Kapil Sibal told media, “CBI said that it has completed its preliminary report and wants to lodge an FIR in the matter. We cannot interference in the matter of CBI.

If they want they can lodge the FIR. But the decision to lodge FIR will be subject to validity of March 2016 order of Governor.”

Sibal said that if March 2016 order of the Governor is found to be wrong, then the result will be that CBI cannot go for any prosecution.