Yakha refuses to ‘divulge stand’ before Patra Commission

GANGTOK, 02 Dec: All India Congress Committee [AICC] member from Sikkim, Avinash Yakha, one of the petitioners seeking investigation into disproportionate assets of Ministers, CB Karki, NK Pradhan and two others was summoned by the Justice RK Patra Commission of Inquiry on 21 Nov.

A press release issued by Mr.. Yakha informs that appearing before the Commission, he submitted an affidavit on his stand on the case, informing the CoI that because his allegations are already under consideration of another forum, he was not in a position to divulge his stand before the Commission.
In the affidavit, Mr. Yakha states that since the investigation has been sought against Ministers of the present government with the Chief Minister also made party in the case and argues that the same government having constituted the Commission of Inquiry to inquire into the allegations against its leaders, “seems to be improper before the eye of law”.
Dismissing the petition filed by Kunga Nima Lepcha and three others in 2006 seeking a writ of mandamus directing the Central Bureau of Investigation to inquire into the alleged disproportionate assets of the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, the Supreme Court had, in its judgement directed the petitioners to “approach the investigative agencies directly with the incriminating materials”, the affidavit details.
Following the Supreme Court’s direction, Mr. Lepcha along with about ten others had filed petitions before the Director, CBI, New Delhi on 24 May 2010 requesting investigations into the disproportionate assets of the Chief Minister and 12 other Ministers. Therefore, Mr. Yakha contends that the petitioners never requested for an inquiry into the matter by the RK Patra Commission.