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SC can only entrust investigation responsibility to the CBI, says Minister

 Even as he assured a fair and unbiased CBI investigation into the rape and death case of 17-year-old girl Saujanya in Dharmasthala, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily has dismissed the demand of the girls’ parents and various organisations, for Supreme Court monitored probe.

Speaking to reporters in the city on Friday, the Minister said that CBI was an autonomous body, hence it would probe into the case independently.

The Supreme Court can only entrust the investigation responsibility to the CBI, he said.

‘Don’t be outraged’

Commenting on the draft anti-superstition bill proposed by the State government which has evoked criticism from various quarters, Veerappa Moily said the controversy was unnecessary as the government has not yet taken a final call on it.

The draft bill is also a recommendation by the professors of National Law School of India University.

It has not yet received the cabinet approval. Therefore, people need not feel outraged, he said, even as he hoped the bill would not interfere with religious beliefs or faith.

Answering to a query on Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry’s programme to create awareness on conservation of fuel, the Minister claimed the programme as successful.
The reduction in use of fuel by three per cent would save up to Rs 14,000 crore.

Batting for Aadhaar linkage to avail government facilities, he said direct cash benefit was beneficial in exposing bogus cards. It has already exposed thousands of bogus ration cards and saved up to Rs 50 crore to his ministry.

On the issue of Reliance Industries failing to meet timeline in drilling operation in K G Basin, Veerappa Moily affirmed that the government will act in accordance with the law and terms of the contract signed with Reliance Industries.

Taking a dig at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, he said that Modi’s rally has only proved him as a fascist which would be advantageous to the Congress.

Portraying Sardar Vallabhai Patel as a right-wing sympathiser was yet another lie that Modi has spread, he alleged.