CBI chief Ranjit Sinha accused of shielding coal scam accused, SC issues notice

New Delhi, In a major blow to India’s premier investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to its Director Ranjit Sinha on a plea seeking his removal from the post and a Special Investigative Team (SIT) probe against him for allegedly protecting coal scam case accused.
Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan has alleged that Ranjit Sinha met coal scam accused at his residence as disclosed in the residence diary. The court has asked the CBI Director to file a response in 10 days and postponed the matter for further hearing till September 19.
The apex court directed Ranjit Sinha to be kept out of all investigations till the matter is not sorted. Sinha has claimed the accusations to be false stating that the plea filed by Bhushan has many inconsistencies. Sinha claimed that his conduct is above board.
According to him all investigations carried out by him have been impartial and that he has never compromised his position. Sinha has disputed the authenticity of the register. The CBI Director also raised some serious questions on Bhushan’s motives.
The court has demanded that Sinha explains his stand and gives out clear reasons for meeting all accused in the past two years. He has been accused of meeting some of them more than 50 times as well.
Considering Sinha’s post it was not acceptable by him to meet the accused, argued Bhushan.
According to the petition a CBI Director commands great power and responsibility and being the head of the agency he monitors all the scams and raids going on in the country. He is kept in the loop during all raids and VIP interrogations, the plea argued.
Sinha stated that explaining allegations against him might force him to state many facts which can go against the very nature of his investigative duties.