File pic: CBI director Ranjit Sinha
New Delhi:
In what could impact future cases, the Supreme Court has said it can consider recalling its own order asking lawyer activist Prashant Bhushan to reveal who gave him a list of visitors to CBI chief Ranjit Sinha's home.
The list forms the kernel of Mr Bhushan's allegation that the CBI director compromised investigations into major scams by meeting the accused at his residence.
"We can correct our mistake if it is a mistake so that it doesn't affect the pending and future (petitions)" the court said, responding to the argument that an order to reveal one's source could discourage petitioners.
Mr Bhushan's Centre for Public Interest Litigations had earlier filed a petition asking the court to recall its order on revealing the source of his information on visitors to the CBI chief's home. The petition was strongly opposed by Mr Sinha's lawyer, who insisted that the person who gave the list should be named.
Last week, Mr Bhushan had told the court that he cannot reveal who gave him access to the details, alleging that he fears for the person's life.
The Supreme Court has asked for the views of the Special Public Prosecutor in the 2G spectrum scam, Anand Grover, to give his views on Mr Bhushan's petition.
Speaking to NDTV, the CBI chief had denied Mr Bhushan's allegations, saying, "I have a residential office and there are many persons who would not like to meet me at the CBI Headquarters due to the undue publicity. Nobody can say I have shown any favours to persons I have allegedly met."