SC Dismisses Plea Seeking Probe Into PNB Scam; Says Can’t Entertain Reckless Allegations

The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the Punjab National Bank scam. The apex court also took note of the serious personal allegations made against the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, Live Law has reported.

The PIL was filed by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud heard the plea.

The court said it was not right for it to intervene as chargesheet has already been filed, mentioned the report.

After Attorney General of India K K Venugopal pointed to the personal allegations, the bench told Sharma: “What kind of PILs are you filing. You read some newspaper report and straight away come to court filing it in the form of a petition and you also make personal allegations. These PILs are not PILs at all”.

“We cannot entertain petitions with such reckless allegations”, the bench is reported to have said further.

Sharma requested the bench to allow him to re-file the PIL tomorrow after removing the personal allegations. However, the apex court dismissed the petition.

The plea also said that retired judges of the apex court should be made a part of the SIT. The plea also sought framing of guidelines to recover loans from defaulters within a stipulated time, the reports stated further.