Central Bureau of Investigation director Ranjit Sinha is under fire for allegedly attempting to save corporates named in the 2G Spectrum Scam. The CBI chief is also accused of allegedly shunting out Santosh Rastogi, a DIG-rank CBI officer, from the investigation of all 2G spectrum scam matters.
Now a newspaper report in DNA has revealed that “top officials of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) have met Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Ranjit Sinha at least 50 times in 15 months at his official residence – 2, Janpath – in Delhi”.
The newspaper has accessed the visitors’ diary at the CBI chief’s residence and according to its report, two officials from ADAG “have been visiting Sinha’s residence almost every week between May 2013 and August 2014”.
Last week, advocate Prashant Bhushan had filed a fresh application in the Supreme Court of India against the interference by the CBI chief in the 2G scam case. The application alleged that Ranjit Sinha was trying to scuttle the CBI investigations in the 2G case by attempting to save Maran & Maxis, and then more brazenly attempting to save Reliance ADAG and other influential accused who are already facing trial. “He has also attempted to transfer out the CBI’s lead 2G case investigator,” the application alleged.
To add to this, Arun Kumar Agrawal, an RTI activist and a whistleblower who filed the first complaint exposing Swan Telecom and Reliance ADAG in 2009 has written a letter to the CBI chief over his alleged collusion with promoter of Reliance Communications.
“Is it true that you, as CBI Director personally tried to favour Anil Ambani/Balwa/Goenka/Swan Telecom by trying to shift the effective date for investigation as the date on which the licenses were issued (that is 10/1/2008) and not the date on which license was applied for (Swan Telecom applied on 2/3/07 and Anil Ambani transferred the company on 18/10/07 to Balwa). You also wanted re-investigation to be done by the CBI on the basis of the amended dates,” Agrawal asked Ranjit Sinha in his letter.
Meanwhile, the apex court today decided to take up the issue of the alleged visits of corporates to the CBI chief’s residence. The apex court will hear the issue on September 4 and it has asked Prashant Bhushan to submit entry register details of CBI chief’s residence.
Interesting times ahead it seems.