The Supreme Court has come down heavily on public interest litigations (PILs) in the Rs 11,400-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.



The apex court said, "It is fashionable to file PILs after seeing news headlines."

Reprimanding the PIL petitioners the Supreme Court said, "It is clear that the petitioner is seeking publicity and playing to the gallery. Such PILs are a gross abuse of process."



The PILs were filed separately by lawyers Vineet Dhanda and ML Sharma. On Tuesday, a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud considered lawyer JP Dhanda's submission that the scam was of enormous magnitude and the plea be listed for urgent hearing.



The court had listed the matter for today.



Dhanda's plea had made PNB, Reserve Bank of India, finance, and law ministries as parties.



The PIL asked for setting up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the scam as well as look into the role of PNB management.



It also wanted the finance ministry to frame guidelines for disbursal of large-ticket loans. The plea also sought the framing of rules for the recovery of loans.



ML Sharma's PIL alleged that the multi-crore-rupee PNB scam has caused serious injury to the general public and the state's treasury.

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Earlier today the government opposed the PILs in the PNB fraud case.



Appearing before the court the Attorney General KK Venugopal said a probe is in full swing and arrests have been made. He also questioned the locus standi of the petitioners.



Opposing the AG, the petitioners said that they were fighting for the cause of the people.



Ruling in favour of the government , the Supreme Court refused to hear the PNB fraud case today.



"We are here to address only legal issues. Big emotional speeches will have no impact," Chief Justice Misra said.



Justice Chandrachud said: "This is playing to the gallery. Let the government do its duty and investigate."



The matter will come for hearing on March 16.

The CBI has already registered two FIRs -- one on January 31 and another a few days ago -- against billionaire diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his relative Mehul Choksi and others for allegedly defrauding the PNB of about Rs 11,400 crore.



(With inputs from PTI)

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