File photo: CBI Director Ranjit Sinha
CBI chief Ranjit Sinha today told the Supreme Court that allegations that he may have compromised investigations into some of the country's biggest financial scams are incorrect. Mr Sinha explained why he met some of the accused in those scams at his Delhi home to NDTV. "I have a residential office and there are many persons who would not like to meet me at the CBI Headquarters due to the undue publicity they would receive." He stressed in his interview, as he has in his affidavit to the Supreme Court, "Nobody can say I have shown any favours to persons I have allegedly met."
The top court is hearing a case that asks for the CBI Director to be removed from office for allegedly trying to impede a fair inquiry into how coal and telecom resources were allocated at a reported loss of lakhs of crores to the country.
A retinue of accusations that Mr Sinha is trying to protect some of the powerful people accused of links to the scandals have been made by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, who is also a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party.
In support of his claims, Mr Bhushan has asked the top court to review a record of visitors at the CBI chief's home - he claims the list shows frequent house calls by those Mr Sinha's agency has accused of serious criminal charges.
Sources close to Mr Sinha say that he has stressed that contrary to what Mr Bhushan has alleged, he over-ruled his team to make the case stronger against some of the accused. As an example, in his affidavit to the Supreme Court, he has allegedly cited the Aircel-Maxis case. The CBI chief says he insisted on tougher charge against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran who has been accused of misusing his office to help a Malaysia-based billionaire acquire the telecom Aircel, allegedly in exchange for a massive investment in a media firm owned by Mr Maran's brother.