SC tells CBI to probe its former chief Sinha

New Delhi, January 23

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a CBI inquiry against the agency’s former director Ranjit Sinha for allegedly interfering in coal scam investigations.

A Bench headed by Justice MB Lokur said: “A prima facie case has been definitely made out for investigation for abuse of authority.”

The court said Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma could select two senior officers to carry out the probe. The court, while rejecting an SIT inquiry, said it was reposing faith in the CBI because of the change of guard there. 

It asked the CBI Director to inform the court about the composition of the team and duration of probe by January 30, the next date of hearing.

The petitioner’s counsel, Prashant Bhushan, told the Bench that CBI Joint Director Vineet Vinayak, who has been supervising the coal scam probe, had conflict of interest in the matter. The court asked the CBI to verify the allegations.

It also asked the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate  to submit status reports. “Pull up your socks,” Justice Lokur told senior counsel Amarendra Sharan, who represented the CBI.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the top court last year that a panel headed by former CBI special director ML Sharma had indicted Sinha for meeting some high-profile accused. — TNS