CBI closes corruption case against Mayawati

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday closed its investigation into alleged corruption charges against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, officials said.

The decision comes over a fortnight after the investigating agency closed its probe into Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's case of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, citing lack of evidence.

In July, 2012, the Supreme Court ordered the case of disproportionate assets against Mayawati be closed. The order came to the CBI in Aug 2013.

According to a CBI official, the Supreme Court in its order mentioned that the case of disproportionate assets should be closed and the investigation in the case will be illegal.

"The Supreme Court order was to quash the FIR, immediately. So, now we have closed the case," said the officer.

The Supreme Court Aug 8 disposed of a petition seeking review of its earlier ruling to quash the CBI investigation into alleged disproportionate assets case against the four-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

The court held the investigating agency exceeded its jurisdiction by lodging a police case against the BSP supremo without the court's direction.

The Supreme Court also said its order on Mayawati was only in connection with the Taj Corridor case and the court did not go into other aspects.

The CBI inquiry against Mayawati began after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced duing the development of the areas around the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage site. The Taj Corridor, as it was called, was commissioned by her in 2003.