New Delhi: The Supreme Court has rejected the Chhattisgarh government's request for a stay of proceedings against former Chief Minister Raman Singh and BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra in connection with the alleged Congress Toolkit controversy.
"We are not inclined to interfere. Let the high court decide the matter expeditiously" said the bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Wednesday.
The bench, which also included Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, added, "Appeal dismissed. Let not the observations come in the way of deciding the case on merits".
The Chhattisgarh High Court had granted interim relief to Singh and Patra in two separate orders earlier in June. The high court noted that the allegations in the FIR indicated that no public peace or tranquillity was being jeopardised and that the conflict was purely political in nature.
"Considering the facts of the case and perusal of FIR, prima facie no case is made out against the petitioner and criminal proceedings are manifestly attended against the petitioner with malafides or political grudge," said Chhattisgarh High Court.
However, the state government argued that the high court erroneously granted interim relief sought by Singh by staying the investigation stemming from the FIR.