Abdul Nazer Madani
New Delhi: Additional Advocate General (AAG) Nikhil Goel on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to retain the current public prosecutor in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts case, in which PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madani is the accused, even if there is a change of government in Karnataka where assembly elections are due. However, the court refused to pass an order in this regard.
Nikhil Goel is the additional advocate general of the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka. The AAG's demand in the apex court comes in the wake of exit poll surveys predicting an upperhand for Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls.
The Karnataka government presented the demand before the bench, comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi, that had earlier considered Madani’s petition requesting to reduce the high cost of security demanded by the Karnataka police for his trip to Kerala.
However, the demand was not included in the initial affidavit filed by Dr Sumit, anti-terrorism cell (ATC) assistant commissioner.
If the government changes in Karnataka, then the public prosecutor in the Bengaluru blasts case is likely to be changed and subsequently the trial would be delayed. Considering this, the AAG requested the court to retain the current prosecutor for the case.
Meanwhile, senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Haris Beeran, who appeared for Madani, requested the court not to accept the demand. Following which, the court refused to pass an order on the demand stating that the prosecutor shall take the stance in such cases.
Earlier on Monday, Madani had cancelled his trip to Kerala due to the Supreme Court's rejection of his plea to reduce the high cost charged by the Karnataka police for his security. Madani expressed his inability to pay such a high amount, adding that doing so would set a wrong precedent.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=fc07f96&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=884f855&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
.jpg?$p=70fc63a&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=1400dd6&f=1x1&w=100&q=0.8)
.jpg?$p=70fc63a&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
.jpg?$p=1400dd6&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
