CBI has declined probe request: CM

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service 

Dehradun, September 22

Taking a U-turn on the CBI probe into NH-74 land scam, Chief Minister TS Rawat has stated that the agency had not accepted the government’s request to take up the investigation. Rawat had during the Assembly session in June announced that the CBI   had accepted the state government’s request for a probe. 

The CM clarified, “At that point in time, I had come to know indirectly that the CBI has accepted our request. But on further inquiry with the Central government I was told that as a SIT formed by the state was already investigating, a CBI inquiry will take place only if there is requirement.” 

The chief minister had declared before the media that the CBI had accepted the government’s request for a probe, after Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari’s letter was leaked. In the letter he had expressed reservation against such a probe, as it would affect the morale of the officers.

Rawat after becoming the CM had announced that his government would seek a CBI probe into the NH-74 land scam. He had even suspended officials.

Now, six months into the office, the commitment has taken a back seat. For that matter, there does not seem to be an urgency for a CBI probe now as BJP president Amit Shah too seemed dismissive of it, while interacting with mediapersons recently.