HC defers Lokayukta case to Wednesday

SHILLONG: The division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya has deferred the hearing on the petition filed by the state government against the order of the Lokayukta for a CBI probe into the coal racket.
During the hearing on Monday, the court acknowledged the additional affidavit filed by the government opposing the order of the anti-graft panel.
The affidavit challenged the order of the Lokayukta by stating the directive to have a CBI probe is beyond the jurisdiction of the anti-graft panel.
Besides, the affidavit also pointed out various pending cases against Abdul Ahad Choudhury, who is supporting the petitioner Abhijit Basumatary, who had sought the intervention of the Lokayukta for the CBI probe into the alleged coal scam and transfer of Meghalaya officials to facilitate a fair investigation.
AS Siddiqui, the counsel for Basumatary, sought the nod of the court to take up the matter on Wednesday to enable him to file a short objection with regard to the maintainability of the writ petition moved by the government and hence the hearing was adjourned to February 26.