SC seeks response from government, CBI on Essar email leak

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the central government and the CBI to respond to a plea by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) seeking a court monitored probe into Essar email-leak matter citing an alleged nexus involving politicians, bureaucrats and corporates.

A bench of Justice T.S.Thakur and Justice Kurian Joseph sought the response from the government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as Essar told the court that it had done nothing illegal or improper and what has surfaced were normal courtesies.

Seeking dismissal of the PIL, the company in its reply has said that "as far job requests are concerned. In Indian environment, considering the enormous demand for corporate jobs, people in offices or in public life frequently make requests for getting jobs. There is nothing illegal or improper in such requests".

Having said so, it said that no appointment is made only on recommendations.

The court also made a TV journalist who was axed from her job following the email leaks a respondent in the matter.

Appearing for the TV journalist, senior counsel Salman Khursheed told the court that because of this, she not only lost her job but she too has suffered a loss of reputation.

In the beginning of the hearing, the court asked CPIL's counsel Prashant Bhushan to give it in a sealed cover the identity of the person who shared information with him. However, reluctant for disclose the identity of the whistle-blowers, Bhushan told the court that they had already been physically threatened.

The PIL by CPIL that was filed on February 27, has sought a court-monitored probe into alleged "political-bureaucratic-corporate nexus" alleging influence-peddling to get suitable polices.