Delhi HC stays CIC order to CBI

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed the Central Information Commission (CIC) order directing CBI to make public reports of its Directors relating to discharge of US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal from two cases of alleged bank fraud.

Granting stay on the CIC’s May 11 order, Justice M L Mehta issued a notice to Krishnanand Tripathi, a TV journalist, and sought a reply by July 28 on CBI’s plea against the order.

Seeking quashing of the order, CBI has filed the petition through its CPIO and said Section 8(1)(h) of the RTI Act exempts the agency from disclosing any information.

“Any disclosure would impede the process of the investigation, apprehension, or prosecution,” said the premier investigating agency in its petition.

“CBI cannot be compelled by any authority to supply any document or information relating to the cases,” the petition also stated.

To Mr. Tripathi’s application under the RTI Act, CBI had refused to share information about the closing of alleged bank fraud cases against Mr. Chatwal, a close aide of former US President Bill Clinton, saying two cases, “interconnected” with the closed cases, were still pending in court and disclosing these reports might adversely affect the prosecution.