The Central Bureau of Investigation has told the Supreme Court that it has enough evidence to prosecute Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati in a case of disproportionate assets.
In an affidavit filed on Friday, the investigating agency said there was evidence to prove that the BSP chief and her family members had acquired assets far beyond their legal sources of income.
The CBI said it has statements of witnesses to show that the Uttar Pradesh chief minister forcibly acquired gifts from people.
Earlier, Mayawati had placed before the Supreme Court records from a debate in Parliament to counter the CBI's allegation that there was ample evidence to prosecute her in the case.
The CBI, in its affidavit filed in July 2009, said the competent authority had already decided to file the final report under section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the designated trial court.
The agency had pointed out that Mayawati's declared assets of
Rs1 crore in 2003 went up to Rs50 crore in 2007 and said there was "ample evidence" to show that she had amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.
Mayawati claimed to have received the money through donations from party workers, which included meagre sums of Rs5 and Rs10, which they contributed on her birthday every year.
She filed a petition in May 2008, seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against her in the case, alleging that it was registered for "political reasons".
The investigating agency had, in July 2008, responded to the apex court's notice saying there was sufficient evidence to show that Mayawati had amassed wealth disproportionate to her known sources of income.
The agency contended that Mayawati's claim that the assets came from donations by party workers was not plausible and that it was likely to file a chargesheet against her soon.
It denied Mayawati's allegation that the UPA government was using the inquiry to serve its political interests.
The CBI had registered the first information report against Mayawati on October 5, 2003, after the apex court had ordered it to probe the Rs175 crore Taj heritage corridor scandal.
