CBI ready with chargesheet against Maya

The agency has completed its investigation and is ready to submit its final report to the Supreme Court, which had told the CBI to lodge a case of embezzlement of funds during the hearing of the Rs 175-crore Taj corridor case in October 2003.

The CBI, in its counter-affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, had argued that it had already completed its investigation and was in possession of strong evidence against the BSP supremo.

The affidavit, which said that Mayawati and her relatives posses assets worth Rs 53 crore, had created controversy with the BSP chief alleging "political conspiracy" against her.

However, on July 28, the Supreme Court is expected to give its ruling on whether the CBI could go ahead with the case against Mayawati or not.

If the Supreme Court upholds the filing of FIR against Mayawati, which had been registered at the behest of the apex court in 2003, the CBI would have to first file a final report in the Supreme Court and within days, a chargesheet in a designated CBI court in Lucknow.

Sources said unlike in the Taj corridor case, which was dismissed as the governor had not given his approval for prosecution of the CM, the government has already got the approval this time.

Mayawati, who is already rattled by the filing of the counter-affidavit by the CBI, would, therefore, have to face more trouble in the coming days. In case a chargesheet is filed, the Samajwadi party is likely to demand her resignation.