Prashant Bhushan accuses CBI Chief of having links with 2G scam accused

Supreme Court to hear Bhushan's petition on thursday

A non-government organisation (NGO) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court the entry register of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Ranjit Sinha residence showed a "disturbing" and "explosive material" coming in the way of the administration of justice in the 2G telecom spectrum allocation scam.

The issue was raised by the Centre for Public Interest Law (CPIL), one of public interest petitioners on whose pleas 122 licences for the 2G spectrum were cancelled by the court.

The court stopped the NGO's counsel from reading his note after the CBI counsel raised objections to making the content public in open court. It agreed to hear it on Thursday.

"If you can give a copy to us, the CBI and the director's counsel, we can take up the matter on Thursday," a bench of H L Dattu, S A Bobde and A M Sapre said.

CPIL's counsel Prashant Bhushan said that after keeping DIG Santosh Rastogi out of the investigation, rectified by the apex court, and during the pendency of an application for the recusal of Sinha from the spectrum matter, a "disturbing" thing had happened.

"On Monday night I came across a disturbing and explosive material - the entry register," Bhushan said. He referred to a news report that executives of a company charged in the scam had met the CBI director at his residence over 15 months.

K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, intervened and asked the bench to pass an order that all materials be placed in a sealed envelope.

Ram Jethmalani, appearing in a 2G-related matter for DMK member of Parliament Kanimozhi, one of the accused, came to the defence of the director saying "he is performing his duty well but all kinds of allegations are being levelled."

Sinha deputed Vikas Singh who said attempts were being made to destroy the CBI as an institution.

Jethmalani said every time Bhushan came out with notes the CPIL be asked to file through an affidavit.

The bench asked the CPIL to file an affidavit and posted the hearing to Thursday when it will also hear the NGO's application for recusal of Sinha from all 2G matters for allegedly trying to protect some influential accused.

Meanwhile, CBI on Tuesday dismissed a report that officials of a telecom company charged in the scam had met Sinha.

Referring to the report Did Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group officials try to influence CBI in 2G case?, the agency said it was "false, baseless and malicious and intended to destroy the credibility of the CBI and reputation of its director."