CJI Lodha’s final Coalgate hearing marred by drama; Chides Senior Advocate Vikas Singh for “hijacking” the proceedings

Chief Justice RM Lodha today expressed his strong displeasure at Senior Advocate Vikas Singh’s conduct for what he termed as “hijacking the court proceedings and dictating the terms.” The drama transpired in the Coalgate hearing when Singh, counsel for CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, intervened and spoke at length though Sinha is not a party to the proceedings. .When the hearing began at 2 pm today, advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing petitioner Common Cause, submitted that the CBI Director should recuse from the investigation as he had been meeting a “large number of accused in the coal scam at his residence multiple times.” Bhushan had also made an interim application to that effect in the last hearing in which the Court had sought the response of the Centre and the CBI..NGO Centre for PIL, petitioners in the 2G scam, had also made a similar submission in the Supreme Court through Prashant Bhushan. The facts and developments in the 2G case immediately came up for consideration. “Two Benches are proceeding at the same time on the same issue”, remarked Justice Lodha..“These are two independent matters, two independent investigations and two different Benches. Your lordships are entitled to give directions in this matter”, replied Prashant Bhushan..Vikas Singh, however, took strong objection to the submissions of Bhushan. He went on a rant against Bhushan and the media..“He is arguing for the media and not your lordships. Sinha is not a party to the proceedings and he is making all sorts of allegations against him. He can’t make scandalous allegations against someone without making him a party…He is even refusing to reveal the name of the whistleblower to the Supreme Court. What does that convey? That even the Supreme Court judges cannot be trusted. Only he can be trusted”, said Vikas Singh..Singh then took objection to the media trial in the matter and sought in camera proceedings. .“Nobody can control the media. They are all here and they report whatever they want.”.Justice Lodha, irked by the fact that Singh was not allowing the judges to speak, then reproached Singh for his conduct..“If you wanted to argue you should have made an application. It is unfortunate that I have to see a sad day like this. If this is happening in the first court of the country what would be happening elsewhere.”.Vikas Singh, however, continued with his rant when Justice Lodha objected:.“Mr. Singh, you have exceeded all limits. You cannot just hijack the proceedings and dictate the terms.” .Taking into consideration the allegations in the interim application that one Moin Qureshi, a meat exporter, had met the CBI Director ninety times at his residence, the Court sought the government’s response on the issue. Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Central government, admitted that Moin Qureshi’s house was raided, his phones tapped, his computers seized and an appraisal report is being prepared by the government. The AG said that he would produce the report in a sealed cover..The hearing then drew to a close. The matter is now posted for October 17..It was also CJI Lodha’s last hearing in the Coalgate matter. He would be retiring on September 27 next week..Image of Vikas Singh taken from here.