Author: Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: May 24, 2009
URL: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/PoliticsNation/Bofors-Maya-all-red-dots-on-CBI-card/articleshow/4461499.cms
The CBI's Image As An Independent And autonomous
investigative agency, which was impervious to external influences, has once
again come under a cloud following revelations that it had sought the withdrawal
of the Red Corner Notice against Ottavio Quattrocchi, the Italian middleman
who's an accused in the Bofors bribery case.
The agency's standing has taken a severe beating of late, with even friendly
parties of the ruling alliance making common cause with the Opposition in
charging it with calibrating its probe in sensitive cases to suit the whims
of the forces in power. The impression has credence of late with detached
public opinion expressing concern over attempts to undermine its autonomy.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice J S Verma, in an article published recently
in a leading daily, once again made out a strong case for insulating the CBI's
functioning from political influences. ``It is sad that even now the CBI continues
to disappoint the people whenever it deals with cases against the powerful.
The blame can no longer be made elsewhere. It is too much of a coincidence
that in sensitive matters, the outcome of the CBI's investigation invariably
depends on the political equation of the accused with the ruling power, and
it changes without compunction with change in the equation,'' he alleged.
There have been several instances in the recent past in which the CBI's decisions
raised eyebrows:
o The decision to withhold sanction to prosecute
former Union minister Satish Sharma.
o The non-filing of an appeal in the DA case
pending against former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, who's key ally
of Congress.
o The decision to change the public prosecutor
in the corruption case pending against railway minister Lalu Prasad, establishment
of special bench of the ITAT, refusal to file an appeal and putting roadblocks
in the Bihar government's attempts to file the appeal in the DA case.
o The flip-flop on cases relating to Uttar
Pradesh chief minister Mayawati. The CBI first tried get her off the hook
in the Taj Corridor case, but later activated the DA case when she withdrew
her party's support to the UPA.
o A similar change in its attitude was visible
in the DA case pending against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and
his family members. It took a hostile stance when the SP-Congress relations
were bitter, but changed tack after Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav started backing
the Manmohan Singh government.
o The closure report filed in the case relating
to former Union minister Jagdish Tytler's alleged involvement in the 1984
anti-Sikh riots. The decision to withdraw the Red Corner Notice against Quattrocchi
has fuelled demands for insulating the country's premier investigative agency
from political pressure. Accusing the Manmohan Singh government of undermining
the autonomy of crucial institutions such as the Election Commission, Rashtrapati
Bhawan and the CBI, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley asserted that, if voted
to power, his party would set up a commission of inquiry, to be headed by
a Supreme Court judge, to investigate cases of collusion of the CBI with the
accused in all sensitive cases and suggest steps to restore and re-establish
the agency's autonomy.
While the principal Opposition party has been gunning against the Congress-led
alliance for misusing the CBI to suit petty political ends, this is the first
time it has brought the investigative agency itself in its line of fire. Coming
in the middle of the general election, the latest round of revelations on
the attempts to bail out Quattrocchi, known for his proximity to the Congress
president, has also given the party another weapon to beat its main political
adversary with.
