HC to hear plea on NH-74 scam today

The Nainital High Court is likely to give it’s directives tomorrow on whether the government should refer the NH-74 probe to the CBI or continue with SIT investigation.

While hearing a PIL on the matter, Judges Sudhanshu Dhulia and Lok Pal Singh had on October 8 ordered the CBI to inform the court during the next hearing (October 28) it’s stance on taking up the CBI probe in the NH-74 scam that originated in Udham Singh Nagar.

It would also become clear as to why the CBI was reluctant to take over the case despite state government’s request.

Even the accused SDM, DP Singh, has approached the High Court demanding CBI probe. Soon after taking over the reins of the state government, Chief Minister TS Rawat had announced his government would seek a CBI probe in the case.

It had even suspended several land officers.

However, the matter took a sudden turn when it was revealed that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote a letter to the state government stating that CBI inquiry could affect the morale of the NHAI officials.