Uttarakhand sting operation: HC stays arrest of CM Harish Rawat

Nainital: The Uttarakhand High Court, Tuesday, stayed the arrest of Chief Minister Harish Rawat in the alleged sting CD case. Next hearing to take place on June 20.

Last week, Rawat was questioned by CBI in connection with a probe into the sting operation involving him
Rawat was forced to appear for questioner after the investigating agency rejected the state government’s notification withdrawing the nod for probing the case which was given during President’s Rule.

The Uttarakhand High Court also did not stay the CBI probe as requested by Rawat.

The agency had summoned Rawat for examination for May 9 but he had sought more time, after which he won the floor test and returned to power.

Rawat has denied the allegation and called the video fake after it was released by the rebel Congress legislators but later admitted that he was on camera in the sting operation.

After Rawat’s victory in the floor test, the state cabinet met on May 15 and withdrew the notification recommending a CBI probe into a sting operation involving him.

Instead, the state cabinet decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team to probe the case as it was a state subject.

PTI