New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today expressed displeasure over the Income Tax department not submitting its report on the 2G scam case on time and also made it clear that no one, however wealthy or powerful, would get immunity.
"The IT department must be quicker. This is not a normal case of tax evasion. It (the investigation) should have been done fast. These are not ordinary cases to be handled in an ordinary way," the bench said, adding that the figures involved were "mindboggling". We haven't seen so many zeroes in life," the court said. It directed the IT dept to submit a complete status report on action taken against tax evaders on May 13, the next date of hearing.
The Supreme Court bench agreed to hear a plea by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) for the appointment of two independent persons to assist the court in monitoring the probe by various government agencies in the scam. Prashant Bhushan, appearing for CPIL, made the plea alleging that "big players are being let off".
The court assured the petitioners that all persons involved in the scam would be brought to justice irrespective of their wealth, position or power. "You rest assured that no person, irrespective of their chair and wealth, could get immunity in any way," the bench said, adding "investigation in the case has made some progress, which would not not have been possible in normal circumstances."
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has contended that no person will be let off, pointing out that investigation is still on.
The investigating agency also submitted that it will file a fresh status report on the ongoing investigation in the 2G scam after the summer vacation.
On May 13, the court will look into the plea for the appointment of independent persons to assist the court in monitoring the probe.