CBI: A puppet of Centre?

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More than a year after it filed an FIR into the 2G spectrum controversy, the CBI carried out nationwide raids on several premises including those of disgraced former Telecom Minster A Raja and other officials who were involved and facilitated the controversial allocation of 2G spectrum. According to television channels the CBI recovered some diaries from the residence of A Raja, which is reported to be detailing the payments given to political leaders, mediapersons, bureaucrats, lawyers and honchos of private sectors. The CBI, however, seems to be hushing up the findings of such diaries, refusing to divulge the outcome of its raid. Despite the Supreme Court rapped the knuckles of the agency for its sluggish probe, the CBI does not look assertive and earnest in its move. The apex court had come down heavily on CBI on November 22 for failing to question A Raja saying it was “beating around the bush”. It vividly indicates that the CBI has become protégé of the ruling dispensation, whose credibility has nosedived. Going by the laid back approach of the agency, it seems uncertain that the CBI would be able to muster all evidences which would enable court to bring the big fishes of the Spectrum-gate to net. The CBI subjected four senior officials and a Chennai-based businessman to interrogation in this regard. The agency said, it was examining a huge number of dossiers seized during the raid. Fair enough, but it is now pertinent what will be outcome of the raid? May be, he cannot be questioned, for the Centre’s nod is required to grill Raja. The Raja-like scandalous man would have been behind the bar, had it happened in other countries. DMK and the Congress government are firefighting the crisis though, they still seem to shield Raja.
In all this cacophony, the Congress government’s stand over the role of investigating agency, looked as surprising as falling of snow in the height of summer, that the CBI is an autonomous body working without any interference. This is summarily a big lie and the UPA-led government is trying to befool aam adami. Irrespective of the Congress’ claim of honesty in its action on the 2G scam, people are making clamour for justice from the government. The Central government has purportedly made the CBI toothless so as to make it own political tool. Though in the Constitution, the CVC is entrusted with responsibilities to keep a tab on the CBI, it seems spunkless as the head of the CVC, PJ Thomas, is himself accused in the Pamolein export issue. Everyone knows that when Thomas was Telecom Secretary, he was kow-towing the then Telecom Minister A Raja. Could the CVC wrench the CBI to put Raja on its radar? People know better. It will ease the atmosphere charged with scams and scandals that the Supreme Court should take initiative to free the CBI from political compulsion and enable it to be an autonomous body. Otherwise, more such Raja will raj the country.

**ramakant/ Dr AK Jha