New SC bench to hear NGO's plea against Modi

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice J S Khehar has posted a plea by an NGO seeking probe into allegations of kickbacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others to a bench presided over by Justice Arun Mishra.

The writ petition filed by the NGO, Common Cause,  through advocate Prashant Bhushan, would be heard on Wednesday by a bench of Justices Mishra and Amitava Roy.

On December 16, a bench  presided over by then CJI-designate Justice Khehar had termed as “very unfair” and “most unfortunate” after advocate Bhushan hinted that the CJI-designate should not hear the matter in view of pendency of his elevation with the government.

“It is very unfair. You have appeared before us earlier and could have pointed this out then and why bring it now,” the bench had then said, expressing their displeasure.

Bhushan, however, had explained that what he tried is “to protect the institution from all kinds of rumours.” He later maintained that he did not seek recusal of Justice Khehar from the case.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi described Bhushan’s submission as “a cheap tactic.”