Coal scam: Ex-ASG Maninder, advocate Batra appointed SPPs

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 16

The Supreme Court has appointed senior advocate Maninder Singh and advocate Rajesh Batra as Special Public Prosecutors for Enforcement Directorate cases registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in the coal scam.

A Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, ordered that Maninder Singh – a former Additional Solicitor General – and Batra would replace senior advocate RS Cheema, who wanted to be relieved from the responsibility.

“Though there was no consensus on the names of individuals, the learned counsel appearing on all sides unanimously agreed that this court should appoint a seasoned trial court lawyer of impeccable integrity and a designated senior advocate to guide him and conduct the proceedings,” the Bench said, adding it had made the appointments “taking into account the above said criteria.” Passed on April 12, the order has now been uploaded on the top court’s website. Expressing reservations over the names suggested by the Supreme Court to replace senior counsel RS Cheema as special public prosecutor to conduct trial in ED cases in the coal scam, the Centre had on Monday proposed that Maninder Singh and Rajesh Batra should be given the responsibility.