Narayanasamy backs executive control over CBI

Overall control of the CBI by the executive cannot be overlooked, Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said Wednesday, noting that a misstep in investigation could ruin the reputation built over a lifetime.

In his address at the valedictory session of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here, Narayanasamy said anti-corruption work entails responsible handling of investigations.

"The reputation of a lifetime earned by a public servant can be dented by one minor mishandling during investigative work," Narayanasamy said.

He also said that a small mistake on the part of the probe agency can have implications on the overall sentiment and governance of the country, impacting also the pace of development.

The minister was speaking at the conclusion of the three-day conference on "Evolving common strategies to combat corruption and crime".

"While the science of investigation has been deliberated upon in this conference, there may be a need to deliberate on the softer or sociological aspects of handling an investigation, and information collected," he said.

Narayanasamy reminded the gathering that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had emphasised "this aspect" in his inaugural remarks at the conference.

He also recalled the speech of union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and said he had sought to distinguish between policy-making and policing.

Narayanasamy said a strengthened Central Bureau of Investigation would have higher responsibility to conduct investigations objectively.

"Keeping in view the implications of a small mistake on their part on overall sentiment and governance of the country impacting pace of development, it is the need of the hour to maintain the highest standards of quality and competence," Narayanasamy said.

The minister also referred to demands for making the CBI independent, but favoured government's overall control on the probe agency.

"While the need for administrative independence and empowerment of the CBI cannot be ignored, keeping in view the overall system of governance... overall control of the executive cannot, and should not, be overlooked," the minister said.