JUDGMENT

S. Muralidhar, J.

1. The challenge in this petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) is to an order dated 19th January 2004 passed by the learned Special Judge, CBI, Delhi in CBI Case No. 3(A) of ACU (1)/New Delhi titled "CBI v. C.K. Ramakrishnan & Others".

2. The petitioner who is a Turkish national is facing trial for the offences under Sections 120-B read with 409 IPC and alternatively Sections 120-B read with 420 IPC. By the impugned order the learned Special Judge rejected the petitioner's plea for replacing the interpreter provided to him in the aforementioned case with a more competent one and for a direction to restart the trial thereafter in compliance with Sections 228, 278, 279 and 282 CrPC.

3. The facts leading to the filing of the present petition are that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a charge sheet on 26th December 1997 alleging that 9 accused persons, including the Petitioner, had entered into a criminal conspiracy to defraud National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) and misappropriate its funds to the tune of US$ 3,80,00,000 (equivalent to Rs. 133 crores at the then rate of exchange). According to the CBI, N