The Supreme Court Monday issued notice to former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati and her erstwhile cabinet minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui in the case of Taj Corridor scam.
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging to Allahabad High Court's decision to reject the case against duo on the basis of lack of evidence, the apex court has ordered afresh enquiry in Rs.17-crore Taj Corridor scam.
"We will examine the case," a bench comprising justices H L Dattu and Ranjan Gogoi said by issuing a notice to Mayawati and Siddiqui, who was then environment minister, and asked them to file response within four weeks.
Mayawati and Siddiqui have been made accused in 2007 Taj Corridor case in which Mayawati has started the beautification of the nearby area of Taj Mahal without getting the consent of erstwhile Governor T V Rajeshwar Reddy.
Earlier in November 2012, the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had dismissed all the Public Interest Litigations (PIL) against her and Siddiqui in the case. Several PILs had been filed challenging the Special CBI court order that dropped the proceedings against her.
Passing the order, the bench comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and Ashwani Kumar Singh said all petitions were devoid of merit and were accordingly being dismissed.
The special CBI court had in June 2007 dropped proceedings against Mayawati and Siddiqui for lack of prosecution sanction, which was not granted by the then Governor.
The Taj corridor project was launched by Mayawati in 2002 to beautify the adjoining areas near the Taj Mahal. Rs. 17 crore were allegedly released and the construction work began without the necessary environmental clearances. In 2003, the Supreme Court ordered the CBI to conduct an enquiry into these allegations.
--With Agencies Inputs--
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