The CBI told the Supreme Court on Friday that it wants senior advocate Mr U.U. Lalit to be appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for the trial in the 2G spectrum allocation case.
Incidentally, Mr Lalit is representing Mr Hasan Ali Khan – accused of money laundering, tax evasion and passport forgery – in the black money case.
The apex court, taking note of the CBI's statement, directed the law officer to take instructions from the Centre and inform it by Tuesday regarding the notification on the appointment of the SPP. A Special Court, presided over by the Special CBI Judge Mr O.P. Saini, was recently set up to solely hear the 2G case.
The CBI had earlier said that it was finding it difficult to choose an eminent and capable lawyer for the SPP's post because most of such lawyers have already been hired by the corporates involved in the case.
Though Mr Lalit was reluctant to take up the offer initially, he subsequently gave his nod in ‘public interest', said Mr K.K. Venugopal, who is representing the CBI. The CBI was keen on Mr Lalit due to his expertise in criminal law, Mr Venugopal said, adding that Mr Lalit was currently the most appropriate person to lead the team of prosecutors in the case.
The court, noting Mr Venugopal's statements, agreed that it was up to the CBI to take a decision on the SPP, and added that considering the width and magnitude of the case, Mr Lalit should be assisted by a team of prosecutors.
Advocate Mr Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation, had mooted senior advocates Mr Harish Gulati and Mr Arvind Nigam to be appointed as SPP citing their experience in criminal law and in trial courts.
The court said they can be considered for being included in Mr Lalit's team of prosecutors, if needed.
The court also said it was satisfied that the 2G scam probe was being carried out expeditiously, adding that many details will become clear once the chargesheet in the case becomes a public document.
The CBI would file the chargesheet in the case before the Special Court on Saturday.