The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea by Daman and Diu MP Umeshbhai Babubhai Patel seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged financial irregularities of approximately ₹33 crore in the renovation, demolition, and restoration of the Union Territory Secretariat building at Moti Daman. The Court directed him to approach the Bombay High Court for appropriate relief.
A Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing the plea when Patel’s counsel argued that the MP was being targeted for exposing corruption in the Union Territory administration.
During the hearing, Patel’s counsel informed the court that the MP was facing 52 FIRs and was also challenging an order passed by the Lokpal. He argued that these cases were filed in retaliation for Patel raising concerns about alleged financial mismanagement.
“I am a Member of Parliament. There have been 52 FIRs against me. I am here also challenging the Lokpal order. All this has the same cause of action. All this is happening because I raised my voice,” the lawyer submitted.
CJI Gavai responded by asking, “Can the law be different for a Member of Parliament and for a common citizen?”
When the counsel contended that Patel was acting as an elected representative of the people, the CJI said, “That is okay. You can approach the jurisdictional high court.”
The bench then directed Patel to move the Bombay High Court, noting that the matter would be taken up expeditiously, possibly as early as a day after it is filed.
The plea before the Supreme Court sought an independent, court-monitored SIT investigation into alleged irregularities worth ₹33 crore in the Moti Daman secretariat project. It claimed that funds were misused under the guise of renovation and restoration of the building.
