Letters: Uncalled-for statement

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Ranjit Sinha's statement that has been widely reported today, ("CBI: Was not consulted on calling Ambani's", August 26), is that the CBI did not want to call Anil Ambani and his wife as witness and they were called by U U Lalit who was appointed as the special public prosecutor by the Supreme Court. While the statement is factually correct, it is uncalled for and unnecessary in the present context. This statement will generate undue controversy and might give legal handle to those who they are trying to prosecute. A very senior lawyer such as U U Lalit would not follow any illegal procedure. Moreover, the summons were permitted by the Court. And it was always within the knowledge of CBI. If we, the people of India, knew this for a long time from newspapers, how did the CBI not know it? CBI's panel of lawyers must have been present in the Court when U U Lalit appeared. If the CBI did not make it an issue at that time, why raise the issue by giving a statement now? Just because some media people ask a question, it is not necessary to underline such a difference between what the CBI wanted and what the public prosecutor did. And when the Court has permitted it, all controversies are over. The CBI director could have said it was an internal matter. Is there more to it than what meets the eye?

Sukumar Mukhopadhyay New Delhi

Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201
E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number