CBI to close disproportionate assets case against Mulayam

The UPA government has often been accused of using the assets case against Mulayam to keep the SP in check. Opposition parties led by the BJP believe that the CBI closure report is a sign that a deal has been struck with the SP over passage of food security Bill in the coming Parliament session. Mulayam opposes the Bill.

The CBI,in fact,is yet to question either Mulayam or his family members in the case. Sources said only CBI Director Ranjit Sinha’s approval was needed to file the closure report. A CBI spokesperson,however,denied Sunday that the agency was set to close the case. “The matter is currently under probe as per directions of the Supreme Court. Inquiry is underway and is in final stages. No final decision has been taken yet. As and when the probe is decided,the CBI will apprise the court,” a spokesperson said.

In its earlier report,the CBI had said that the total income of the Yadav family was Rs 4.59 crore in 2005,up from Rs 18.26 lakh in 1993. It estimated their disproportionate assets as worth Rs 2.63 crore.

CBI officials probing the case admitted that it was difficult to prove the disproportionate assets charge,particularly with the market value of the assets having grown many fold over the years.

The agency had registered a preliminary enquiry in the case in March 2007 on the Supreme Court’s orders. While it claimed to have collected more than 400 documents,only eight persons were examined. In 2008,then solicitor general G E Vahanvati advised the CBI that the case against Mulayam be closed since assets of relatives Akhilesh and Dimple could not be clubbed with his.