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The Supreme Court has today issued notice in an appeal filed by former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Vinay Mishra challenging order of the Calcutta High Court in an investigation being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Mishra in an Indo-Bangladesh Border coal and cattle smuggling case.

A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice MR Shah and Justice Hima Kohli, while issuing notice in the matter, tagged the same with Anup Majee’s matter.

The petition has been filed challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court (HC) refusing to entertain the plea seeking direction to stop investigation being conducted by CBI. “There has been no illegality committed in the ongoing investigation and as such, there is no scope for interference in the continuation of the investigation,” the HC had noted.

Vinay Mishra is the prime suspect in a case being investigated by CBI, wherein he is alleged to have been operating an illegal coal mining and smuggling and cattle smuggling racket worth thousands of crores of rupees. The coal is said to have been sold across western regions of West Bengal.

Justice Chandrachud after going through the matter said that the matter would have to be tagged along with the pending case of Anup Majhee which is listed tomorrow.

However, Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Mishra contended that in Anup Majee’s plea the HC has mentioned about the jurisdiction of the CBI, however, in Mishra's plea, there is no such mention. “It is a political hounding,” Rohatgi added.

Rohatgi further requested the bench to at least provide protection to Mishra from arrest.

However, the bench while tagging the matter with Anup Majee’s plea, merely issued notice.

Case Title: Vinay Mishra v Central Bureau of Investigation & Ors.