Supreme Court Directs MP's Plea on Secretariat Irregularities to High Court

The Supreme Court refused a plea by Daman and Diu MP, Umeshbhai Babubhai Patel, for a court-monitored SIT probe into a Rs 33 crore financial irregularity in the Moti Daman secretariat project. Patel was advised to approach the Bombay High Court for further action.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea from Umeshbhai Babubhai Patel, an MP from Daman and Diu, seeking a court-supervised Special Investigation Team probe into alleged financial irregularities, amounting to Rs 33 crore, related to the Union Territory secretariat project in Moti Daman.

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai directed Patel to take his concerns to the Bombay High Court. During the hearing, Patel's lawyer contended that the multiple FIRs against the MP were retaliation for his vocal stance against corruption and financial mismanagement.

The Chief Justice queried whether the law should differentiate between a Member of Parliament and ordinary citizens. Despite this, the bench suggested an expedited hearing at the high court, emphasizing that the case could be attended to as soon as it's filed.

(With inputs from agencies.)