Kargil deals: SC rejects two PILs for probe

R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, October 13

The Supreme Court today dismissed two PILs for a probe into the purchase of coffins, snow suits and ammunition during the 1999 Kargil conflict on the basis of the irregularities pointed out in the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report.

A Bench headed by Justice TS Thakur dismissed the petitions by KG Dhananjay Chauhan and others, observing that nothing survived in the PILs as nothing was found amiss in the CBI probe and trial.

The Bench, which included Justice V Gopala Gowda, passed the order, accepting the Centre’s contention that there was no point in keeping the PILs pending. Appearing for the government, advocate R Balasubramanian said the court of metropolitan magistrate had discharged the only accused in the coffin scam case. The trial court said there was no evidence to proceed against Victor Baiza, the middleman, in the purchase of reusable aluminium coffins from a US company.

The CBI had further noted that there was no substance in the allegations of a scam in the purchase of snow suits for the soldiers. In fact, there was no such deal and no payment had been made for the purpose, the agency had found.

In another case pertaining to procurement of weapons from a South African company, Krasanopol Ammunition, the trial court had accepted the closure report filed by CBI for want of evidence, the apex court was told.