HC rejects Laxman’s interim stay plea

The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to stay criminal proceedings against former BJP president Bangaru Laxman in a corruption case after he was caught on camera in 2001 allegedly taking money to clear a fictitious defence deal.

The former BJP president referred to a revised petition filed by him in the high court, challenging an order passed by Special Judge I K Kochhar on July 17, 2006, granting pardon to his former private secretary T Sathyamurthy, who was a co-accused in the case, and making him an approver in the case.

Alleging persecution by political opponents, Laxman claimed, in his application, dated January 9 that the CBI — on the instigation of “political high-ups” — has “deliberately hoisted Satyamurthy as a manufactured witness” against him.