'SC is not a dumping ground for political fights'

The court was hearing to a PIL filed by a social activist against Dayanidhi Maran

Supreme Court today refused to entertain a PIL against DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran for allegedly setting up a telephone exchange illegally at his Chennai house during his tenure as the telecom minister, saying that political battles should not be fought in courts.

"Supreme Court is not a dumping ground for political fights," a bench headed by Justice BS Chauhan said while expressing reservations about entertaining the PIL filed by a social activist.

"Why are you interested in Maran?," the bench asked.

Advocate N Rajaraman, appearing for the petitioner, pleaded that the case be heard as another such petition was also pending in the apex court in which it had issued notices to CBI and BSNL on a plea for inquiry against Maran.

The bench, however, was not convinced and said there should not be a multiplicity of petitions on the same issue.

The petitioner, KR Ramaswamy, submitted in his plea that inquiry be conducted against Maran for allegedly misusing public office by setting up a telephone exchange at his Chennai residence and routing 323 lines to his family-owned Sun TV Network offices, thereby causing a loss of Rs 440 crore to BSNL and to the national exchequer.

On a similar petition filed by one Swaminathan Gurumurthy, the apex court had on January 11 issued notices to CBI and BSNL.