CBI versus CBI

IT is unfortunate that India’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is mired in controversy. Allegations of corruption have been made against its top official and his immediate junior. The CBI has booked Special Director Rakesh Asthana over allegedly receiving a bribe from an accused probed by him. Apparently, the FIR was filed against Asthana almost two months after he had shot off a letter to the Cabinet Secretary, accusing his boss, CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma, of indulging in a series of corruption acts. The allegations and counter-allegations are of a very serious nature. It is expected that the Central Vigilance Commission, the statutory body that exercises superintendence over the functioning of the CBI for investigation of offences related to the prevention of corruption, will probe them thoroughly. Meanwhile, the agency’s other supervisor — Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) — must take the necessary steps to purge the system, which is possible as the Prime Minister is the head of the DoPT. 

Every government says that the CBI enjoys full autonomy. It is, however, difficult for the agency officials to completely sanitise itself from the country’s overwhelming political system. That could be the reason why the Supreme Court criticised the agency as a ‘caged parrot’ and ‘its master’s voice’ in 2013. Ever since, the credibility of the CBI has been on the decline. Today, it has reached its nadir. This is the time for CBI officials to remember the founding director, DP Kohli — ‘The public expects the highest standard from you, both in efficiency and integrity. That faith has to be sustained’. Its glory must be restored.  

This is not possible without flushing out rogue officials and creating a firewall to prevent political interference. The Manmohan Singh government did take an initiative about five years ago by forming a Group of Ministers to suggest ways to ensure the independence of the CBI and its functional autonomy. The task remained incomplete due to the lack of political will. The Modi government has the opportunity to take it to its logical conclusion.