HC tells CBI to file chargesheet copy in fake CBI officer case

The Bombay High Court today asked CBI to submit in a sealed cover the chargesheet filed by it against two persons who had allegedly posed as CBI officers to extort money from filmmaker Rakesh Roshan.
The order was passed by Justices PV Hardas and PN Deshmukh after CBI counsel informed them that the agency had already filed a chargesheet in this case in a CBI special court. The matter has been posted for hearing on November 12.
The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by ex-scribe Ketan Tirodkar, who alleged that two persons -- Rajesh Ranjan and Ashwini Kumar-- had posed as CBI officials and approached Roshan with an offer to settle an inquiry pending against him with the investigating agency.

The duo were later arrested and it was found that they were imposters.
The PIL alleged that it was suspected that the two connived with CBI officials and extorted money.
The petition sought a probe by Special Investigating Team (SIT) into the allegations of extortion by the two accused in connivance with CBI officers.

"Roshan was impressed by the factual knowledge of the case details and the fact that there was evidence against him for the CBI to register a regular case and hence he paid Rs 50 lakh to the imposters," stated the petition.
The petition alleged that the agency had come under pressure not to interrogate Ashwini Kumar and it was also decided by CBI not to hand over the case to local police as many skeletons would tumble out of CBI's closet.

Tirodkar has questioned the case against Roshan and why was he tempted to pay the bribe.
The PIL said CBI had no jurisdiction to register and investigate cases of cheating under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code even if a central government servant is involved.
The petition said that Roshan's case has diluted into a case of cheating at the instance of top CBI officers.
The PIL also alleged that a top CBI officer had accepted Rs three crore bribe through accused Rajesh Ranjan to shield an accused in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case.