New Delhi, July 12 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday dismissed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati’s allegation that its affidavit against her in a corruption case in the Supreme Court was filed under political pressure. “It is clarified that the CBI’s counter-affidavit is in compliance with the specific direction given in the order dated May 15, 2008 of the Supreme Court bench headed by the chief justice of India,” the CBI said in a statement.

The clarification came after Mayawati said at a press conference here Saturday that the agency was acting at the behest of her archrival Samajwadi Party after it got into a “deal with the Congress”.

“It is further clarified that CBI had no option but to file the counter-affidavit at this juncture in compliance with the specific directions of the Supreme Court. The counter-affidavit is in response to the petition filed by Mayawati May 9 and is broadly in the nature of para-wise reply,” the statement added.

The CBI Thursday approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to file a charge sheet against Mayawati for owning assets far exceeding her known income.

In an affidavit filed in the apex court registry, the CBI said it has enough evidence to prosecute the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief for owning various moveable and immovable assets far exceeding her known and legal income.

“It is also clarified that during the hearing in the Supreme Court May 15, the CBI counsel had informed the court that CBI had completed the investigation and was ready to file the report.

“The CBI has not revealed the result of its investigation either in the counter-affidavit filed July 10 or during the last hearing on May 15. What is mentioned in the counter-affidavit is only the position of disproportionate assets as existing on Sep 18, 2003, which had been then reflected in the CBI’s status reports before the Supreme Court,” the statement added.

The CBI also categorically denied that it had circulated copies of the counter-affidavit, as Mayawati has alleged.