Addl Solicitor General appointed SPP for 2G scam cases

The Central government has appointed Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as the Special Public Prosecutor for cases related to the 2G scam.

The notification appointing Mehta, reads, "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (8) of section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the Central Government hereby appoints Shri Tushar Mehta, Advocate, New Delhi, as Special Public Prosecutor for conducting prosecution, appeals/revisions or other proceedings arising out of the cases related to 2G Spectrum investigated by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (CBI) in the Court of Special Judge (2G Spectrum cases), Central Bureau of Investigation, New Delhi and appellate/revisional courts."

However, the status of current SPP Anand Grover appointed by the Supreme Court remains unclear.

In 2014, Grover was appointed SPP for leading the prosecution in the 2G cases, on the suggestion of current Attorney General KK Venugopal, who was then representing the CBI in the matter.

Grover had taken the place of UU Lalit, who had been elevated as a judge to the Supreme Court.

After hearing the case for close to seven years, the Special CBI Court had, on December 21, 2017, acquitted DMK politicians A Raja, Kanimozhi and 15 other accused in the case.

While the notification speaks about the appointment of Mehta, it is silent on Grover.

Given the fact that Grover was appointed by the top court, it is unlikely that the Centre would replace him without the court's assent.