The removal of CBI chief Ranjit Sinha by the Supreme Court from the 2G Spectrum case holds many implications for the investigation agency as well as other probes he is monitoring.
The CBI director made it clear that he has no intention to challenge the SC order by filing a review petition. Sinha said that he will obey the apex court order issued by a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said he was not embarrassed by the Supreme Court order for him to recuse himself from the investigation and prosecution of the 2G scam case.
On being asked about naming DIG Santosh Rastogi as a possible ”mole” who leaked the visitor’s diary details to Prashant Bhushan, Sinha said that he had not named anybody.
Twelve days before his retirement, CBI Director Ranjit Sinha on Thursday suffered a major blow when the Supreme Court removed him from the 2G scam case, saying the allegations against him of protecting some accused appears to be “prima facie credible”.
The apex court, in an unprecedented order, handed over the case to the senior-most officer after Sinha in the 2G scam investigating team.
A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, however, refused to pass an elaborate order on the issue saying that it would “tarnish” the “image and reputation” of the premier agency.
The apex court also recalled its earlier order by which it directed the NGO to disclose the name of whistleblower who had provided documents and visitors diary of Sinha’s residence.
Meanwhile, the BJP reacted by saying that Congress party owed an explanation as to why it picked Sinha to head the CBI despite the then leaders of opposition in both Houses, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, cautioning against the move.
Various experts have voiced their opinion saying that Sinha should quit. Former CBI chief RK Raghavan suggested that Sinha should quit immediately and fight the case from outside the agency if he thinks he was wronged.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy also said that the CBI director should step down.
The Prime Minister’s Office too is believed to be disturbed with the charges against the CBI chief.
Sinha is set to retire from office on December 2 but the SC directives are going to leave a scar on the CBI chief’s credibility.
