SC directs CBI chief to recuse himself from 2G case (Second Lead, correcting third para)

In a rap to CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, the Supreme Court Thursday directed him not to interfere in the 2G spectrum case and recuse himself from its investigation and prosecution.

An apex court bench of Chief Justice H.L. Dattu, Justive Madan B. Lokur and Justice A.K. Sikri said that the senior-most officer heading the investigation team probing the 2G case will take over the overall investigations of the 2G cases.

Holding as "credible" the allegations of interference and scuttling of investigation and prosecution by Sinha in the 2G spectrum cases, the court recalled its Sep 15 order directing NGO CPIL to reveal the identity of the whistleblower who gave information on Sinha's alleged interference.

The court while not passing a detailed order with reasons said that it was doing so as it would effect and hurt the image of the premier investigation agency.

Earlier in the day, the apex court took exception to the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) submission that senior counsel K.K. Venugopal will no longer represent it in the 2G spectrum case.

The court did not take kindly to the probe agency's joint director Ashok Tiwari telling counsel Gopal Shankar Narayan that Venugopal would not appear for the CBI in the ongoing case on allegations that its chief Ranjit Sinha was interfering in the probe.

The court also did not take well to the presence of a large number of CBI officers in the courtroom, and enquired about the reason for their attendance.

When senior counsel Vikas Singh, representing Sinha, sought to justify this, saying they were assisting the court in giving clarifications on files, if any, Chief Justice Dattu said: "We have not called them. If we need any clarification, we will call them."

The chief justice then directed all the officers to vacate the court room and attend to their work.