SC to hear Bengal plea on ex-police officer on April 16

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court will hear on April 16 the West Bengal government's plea seeking to bar former police officer Bharati Ghosh from entering the state.

The bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice K.M. Joseph said the hearing would begin on April 16 and if it is not concluded, the further hearing would be held on April 22.

The court took on the record the status report on the investigation by the state police into the allegations of cheating, tampering with evidence and the actions violating the provisions of Telegraph Act.

Senior counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul contended that the state was seeking to oust the former police officer as she was campaigning in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections for the BJP.

Kaul said that after February 19 order restraining West Bengal government from taking any coercive action against Bharati Ghosh, the state had moved an application on February 24, but did not press it then, but was doing so as the former police officer has started campaigning.

"Without prejudice to the contentions of the parties, we are of the view that till the next date of hearing, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner (Bharati Ghosh) in any of the cases", the court had ordered on February 19.