NEW DELHI: A Supreme Court Bench on Wednesday expressed surprise over reports that the CBI would not oppose the bail petitions of DMK MP Kanimozhi and those of other accused in the 2G scam and wanted to know if the agency was in favour of granting bail or opposing it.Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval, however, dismissed the reports, and said he had clear instructions to oppose the bail pleas.The Bench comprising Justice G S Singhvi and Justice H L Dattu also made it clear that the issue before it was serious and wanted to know if there was any change in the CBI’s stand. It told Raval that the public relations officers of the agency could have contradicted such misleading reports.The Bench also said that even if there was a change in the government’s stand, it would not affect the proceedings before the court. “If you have any such instructions, please tell us. It will not affect us,” the Bench said. Raval stuck to his stand and denied there was any change in the government’s stand.The court also took exception to the reported statement of Law Minister Salman Khurshid that putting businessmen behind bars would hamper investments in the country and said if it was true, it was disturbing. The Bench asked Raval to clarify if Khurshid had made such a statement and if he had, what he actually meant. “It appears and gives an impression as if we are interested in keeping these businessmen behind the bars,” the Bench said. It wanted to know from Raval whether he was supporting the stand taken by the Minister and whether the statement was correct, as it was confusing.The matter came up during the hearing of the bail pleas of Unitech Wireless MD, Sanjay Chandra, and Swan Telecom Director Vinod Goenka.
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