Supreme Court rebukes CBI for claiming West Bengal courts are hostile; warns of contempt action

In a stinging rebuke to the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI), the Supreme Court on Friday castigated the agency for filing a petition to transfer a case out of West Bengal [Central Bureau of Investigation v. State of West Bengal and Ors]

A Division Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal expressed displeasure over the CBI's plea, emphasising that the agency had cast aspersions on the entire judiciary of the State.

"You are brandishing all courts in West Bengal as hostile. Judges of the district judiciary cannot protect themselves. You are saying that trials are not conducted properly," the Court said.

The Court even threatened to issue a contempt notice to the lawyer responsible for drafting the plea.

"This is a fit case to issue a contempt notice to the one who drafted this," Justice Oka warned.

Appearing for the CBI, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju expressed unawareness about the contents of the petition and offered to withdraw it.

However, the Court refused to accept a simple withdrawal, pointing out that the allegations were clearly stated in the plea.

"This is all in black and white. How can you do this? Your officer first has to tender an apology for casting such aspersions on courts in West Bengal," it said.

Thereafter, ASG Raju urged the Court to avoid harsh language and requested it to note that the remarks against the judiciary were unintentional.

Taking note of the submissions, the Court dismissed the plea, granting liberty to the CBI to file a fresh one.

[Read Courtroom Exchange]