CBI's coalgate investigator arrested for taking bribe

In another embarrassment to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), two of its officers - Superintendent of Police Vivek Dutt, also the investigating officer in the coal block allocation scam, and Inspector Rajesh Karnatak - were arrested on Friday for accepting a bribe of Rs 7 lakh from a person. CBI's internal vigilance department did the arrests. Sources said Dutt was trying to use his influence to help a person settle a case in connection with a land dispute.

CBI is under the scanner of the Supreme Court for sharing its coal allocation probe report with the former law minister, Ashwani Kumar, and two joint secretary-level officers, of the coal ministry and the prime minister's office. The Supreme Court had rapped the CBI for being a "caged parrot speaking in its master's voice."

The latest development comes after the formation of a Group of Ministers to prepare a draft law to insulate CBI from external influence.