SC raps ex-CBI chief, orders CVC probe

The Supreme Court on Thursday termed "inappropriate" the controversial meetings between former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief Ranjit Kumar Sinha and several executives of companies involved in the coal and telecom scams. And, called for a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to investigate the alleged nexus.

Experts said it was an observation on an individual and would not dent the image of the premier investigative agency.

A bench headed by judge Madan Lokur said there was merit in the allegations that Sinha met persons in the absence of investigating officers of the cases. It asked the CVC to file a report on the entire issue on or before July 6.

The bench also comprised judges Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri. It dismissed Sinha's plea for prosecution of lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who had filed a petition on behalf of a non-government body to seek a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against the officer. Bhushan had charged Sinha with abuse of official position for allegedly scuttling the probe into a coal block allocation. He'd produced Sinha’s residential visitors’ logbook before the Supreme Court earlier and alleged the entries showed the the CBI head was meeting those accused in some of the biggest scams. The plea had asked for a court-monitored SIT investigation into Sinha’s role.

Two former CBI chiefs said they were not happy at Sinha's conduct. “The best of professional integrity has to be maintained, which prima facie looks he (Sinha) didn’t do and, therefore, the apex court is asking for CVC assistance,” said Vijay Shanker, who was CBI Director in 2005-08.

Joginder Singh, who held the same office in 1996-97, said many politicians and corporate houses tried to influence him during his tenure but he never paid heed to any of them. “You can meet anyone you want but how can you meet an accused at your residence? During my tenure, I also went through a lot of political pressure but I made it clear in the beginning through my action that I would not entertain any of these,” he said.