Corrupt People Are Destroying The Country; No Action Taken Against Them: Supreme Court

A Bench of Justices KM Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy today orally, while hearing a petition by a Bhima Koregaon case accused Gautam Navlakha seeking house arrest, observed,

"Who is destroying this country? You want me to tell you? People who are corrupt. Every office you go into, what happens?"

The Bench made this observation after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju vehemently opposed the transfer to house arrest.

"He's a 70 year old man. We don't know for how long he will live. He's on his way to the inevitable. We are not granting him bail. Whatever restrictions you [Centre]want, you put. We are not going to grant him bail…we are careful. Scan the materials. It's not as if they want to destroy this country. I don't think they want to destroy this country."

"They want to destroy the country. The want a particular…. It's not that they are innocent people. They are persons who involved in actual warfare…", the ASG said.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Navlakha took exception to this statement.

The Bench then pointed out that it is the corrupt who are destroying the country.

"I'm not defending such persons. I'm not saying that the corrupt should be exempted. Action must be taken against them", ASG Raju said.

The Bench queried as to who ever takes action against the corrupt.

"Who takes action against the corrupt? We saw a video where people talk of crores of rupees given to elected representatives. Unless we close our eyes....Are you saying that it is good? That they are not doing against our country? The point is that, they have gone merrily. They have money bags; they get away with it."

While parting with the matter today, the Bench asked the ASG Raju the restrictions to be placed on Navlakha while on house arrest. The Bench will continue hearing the case tomorrow.

Case Title: Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr. | SLP(Crl) No. 9216/2022 II-A

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