CBI books ex-chief Ranjit Sinha in corruption case

The CBI has registered a graft case against its former director Ranjit Sinha for allegedly trying to influence the coal scam probe as the agency's chief.
Action against Sinha came after the Supreme Court directed the agency to constitute a special investigation team to look into the allegations against him.
The apex court had tasked a former special director of the CBI with looking into the visitors diary at Sinha's official residence which allegedly showed that several accused in the coal block allocation scam case were regular visitors to his house.
On the basis of Sharma's report, the SC had directed the CBI to probe Sinha as it found there was prima facie material in the allegation of "inappropriate conduct" by the 64-year old former director of the agency.

The CBI has registered 54 FIRs in the coal scam against various persons.
The Supreme Court had held that it was completely inappropriate for Sinha to have met persons accused in the coal block allocation case without the investigating officer or the probe team being present, the FIR alleged.

The apex court also had held that it was necessary to look into the question whether such meetings had any impact on the investigations and final reports submitted by the CBI in this matter, it said.
"In view of the Supreme Court orders dated January 23, 2017, the CBI was instructed to conduct an investigation into the abuse of authority prima facie committed by Sinha," it alleged.

Sinha, an 1974-batch IPS officer, was the CBI director between 2012 and 2014.