Author: Ashwani Sharma
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: December 1, 2010
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/pressures-did-come-many-times-during-27month-tenure/717892/2
Outgoing Director of the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI), Ashwani Kumar, admits that occupying the top post of
India's premier investigating agency was not an easy task and that he was
under pressure on several occasions but he chose to act straight.
"Pressures did come on me many a time
during my 27-month tenure but the point is how best you can handle those situations
and do the best. I simply chose to act straight in those circumstances and
did what my conscience told me," he told The Indian Express on Monday.
The 1973-batch Himachal cadre officer, who
hails from Sirmaur - one of the state's most backward districts - will retire
on Tuesday after 37 years of police service.
He said he would return home, to Shimla, with
a lot of satisfaction, both professional and moral. "I tried to be fair
and transparent in my actions while dealing with cases, whether it's related
to corruption at high places involving political big-wigs or other cases involving
misuse of powers. I only believed in God and went by the merits of each case.
So, I am a happy man today as I get ready to demit office." Before becoming
the CBI Director in 2008, Kumar had held several important positions. He was
DIG in the Special Protection Group during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime
Minister, and later also served as the Director General of Police in Himachal
Pradesh.
The first officer from the small hill state
to occupy the post of CBI Director, he said he does not believe that the investigation
agency acts under political pressure, or there is a lot of inference. The
CBI continues to be a fiercely independent agency, which is always under the
public scanner, he said, adding that its every action is closely monitored
by the judiciary, Parliament and the media.
"The attack from the Opposition on the
CBI is also a part of healthy democracy to make the institution more accountable.
There is nothing bad in healthy criticism," he said.
