[Narada case] "Orchestrated attempts to frustrate justice:" Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argues for CBI in Calcutta High Court

The hearing the in the Narada sting case before Calcutta High Court today saw Solicitor General Tushar Mehta make vehement submissions that there have been attempts to intimidate the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) from discharging its functions..Trinamool Congress (TMC) party leaders, Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, Madan Mitra and Sovan Chatterjee were arrested on Monday in connection with the case. .While a lower court granted them bail, the High Court stayed the order later the same day after hearing oral submissions made by the CBI. ."The facts are perhaps unprecedented in the history of the country", Mehta has argued today before a Bench of acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee..It may be noted that the bail was stayed after the CBI also cited a threat to the probe agency on the ground that TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, and others had been sitting in dharna outside the agency's office..Mehta argued today that the prosecution was not even allowed to show the charges against the accused."We were physically prevented," Mehta said..He went on to assert that the question of whether bail should be granted is to be view from the perspective of whether the four arrested TMC leaders may be able to influence witnesses.."It is a question of wider import. Cause of justice was frustrated in unprecedented circumstances. There was an orchestrated effort to see that justice was not done ... There might be no such instance when a premier investigating agency was prevented from doing what this Court had entrusted", Mehta added..Mehta has also disputed the submission that the CBI had obtained a stay order based on misrepresentation.."I had clearly stated the circumstances existing for staying the order ... It was well planned and well thought out to not allow judge to decide the bail ... The crowd tried to enter CBI office and gheraoed the office. It was an orchestrated move making it impossible for CBI officers to move out of their office ... Unruly mob not only indulged such activities in CBI office at Nizam Palace, but also indulged in stone-pelting and heckled CBI officers ... The mob also created hindrance in submitting hard copies of chargesheet. All attempts were to ensure that accused are not produced before the Court ... It is imminent and evident from the threatening presence of thousands of miscreants that it was intended to terrorise the investigating agency and prevent it from discharging its functions ... ", Mehta argued..Another shocking development was when the State law minister reached the special court with a group of people and remained present there, he added. Mehta has contended that this entire exercise was to put pressure on system of administration of justice.."I am also invoking your Lordships jurisdiction under section 482 to prevent abuse of process of law", Mehta submitted, going on to add, ."If these events are not an abuse of process of law, then I don't know what it is. I was prevented from arguing before special court, I was prevented filing chargesheet, case diary ... It was intended to show the court the influence of the accused. 'Look the Chief Minister is sitting in dharna for the accused,' that is the message ... If this order of High Court is vacated, it will mean that all the orchestrated attempts to frustrate justice succeeded.".In this backdrop, Mehta has urged the Court not to allow the plea by the accused to recall the High Court's order staying the bail earlier granted. The CBI should be given more time to reply, Mehta has added. .Senior Advocates AM Singhvi and Siddharth Luthra have argued for a recall of the High Court's stay order. .[Narada case] "No court in India can give an order canceling bail without notice to the accused:" Abhishek Manu Singhvi to Calcutta High Court.To track the case live, click here.