Central Bureau of Investigation informed Bombay High Court that the agency has been conducting the preliminary enquiry into the complaint registered by 63 Moons Technology Limited against former Union Minister P Chidambaram and two bureaucrats over alleged misuse of power.
Advocate Hiten Venegavkar, appearing for CBI told the division bench that since the case allegations were posed in the year 2012-2013, the probe agency will need time to recover the relevant documents.
“We (CBI) are conducting preliminary enquiry. Since the case dates back to the year 2012 and 2013, we need to apply our mind and verify the allegations levelled and recover all relevant documents,” said Vanegavkar.
A division bench of Justices S S Jadhav and N J Jamadarwas hearing the plea filed by Jignesh Shah-promoted company which was earlier known as Financial Technologies Ltd questioning the delayed action on the part of CBI in the preliminary enquiry against P Chidambaram, bureaucrats K P Krishnan and Ramesh Abhishek.
He also mentioned that CBI had summoned the complainant (63 Moons) for recording the statement and also asked to provide the evidence supporting their allegations. “However, till date CBI has not received any further evidence or documents from the petitioner company,” added Vanegavakar.
While the claims were denied by advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for 63 Noon Technologies Ltd and told that they have already submitted the documents.
Ponda further contended, “A preliminary enquiry, as per provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, has to be completed within a period of four months. In this case, the preliminary enquiry was initiated in February. We (petitioner) moved the high court in July.”
Bombay High Court bench has asked the probe agency to submit an affidavit containing enquiry details and has posted the matter for further hearing on August 13.
63 Noons Technologies Ltd has filed a complaint with the CBI in February 2019 seeking registration of FIR against P Chidambaram, K P Krishnan and Ramesh Abhishek for allegedly abusing their official power and causing damage to the company after multi- crore payment default scam at the National Spot Exchange Limited (MSEL) came to light.
