SC refuses to entertain petition by Chandigarh-based dentist seeking criminal prosecution of BSF Director

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 8

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition by a Chandigarh-based dentist seeking criminal prosecution of BSF Director General and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chief Rakesh Asthana under Prevention of Corruption Act.

“Why under Article 32? We can’t entertain this,” a Bench of Justice L Nageswar Rao and Justice Ravindra Bhat told the petitioner’s counsel.

The top court, however, gave liberty to petitioner Mohit Dhawan to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court to pursue his case even as senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi opposed it.

Dhawan submitted he had filed a complaint against Asthana before the CBI Director in 2019 but there had been no action. He accused Asthana of falsely implicating him in a case and intimidating him by abusing his official position.

Alleging extortion, harassment and fabrication of documents by police, he had also sought directions for providing adequate security to the petitioner in view of grave threats.

Alleging that the Central Vigilance Commission and the CBI were sitting over the complaint for more than 16 months without informing him about the status of the action taken, Dhawan demanded criminal prosecution of all such erring officials.