CBI has no problem with CVC oversight
Probe agency says court reminded watchdog to exercise its authority
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has said that it has no problem with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) assisting the Supreme Court in monitoring the probe by different agencies in the 2G spectrum scam case.
The Supreme Court has also refused to appoint a special investigation team (SIT) for further probe in the matter.
“The Supreme Court has said that all the reports will be seen by CVC. The CBI does not have any problem with this arrangement because the agency comes under the superintendance of CVC and in a way, the apex court has reminded the commission to exercise its authority in this case,” a senior official of the CBI told Deccan Herald.
Assistance to court
While pronouncing the verdict on 2G licences, a bench of justice G S Singhvi and justice A K Ganguly said: “Keeping in view the nature of the case and involvement of a large number of influential persons, we feel that it will be appropriate to require the Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Senior Vigilance Commissioner appointed under Section 3(2) of the 2003 CVC Act to render assistance to the court in effectively monitoring further investigation of the case.”
The apex court directed CBI, Enforcement Directorate and other government agencies to give their status reports in a sealed envelope to the CVC which would give its suggestion to it (the court) on the probe done by them.
Probe questioned
The Supreme Court passed the order on a plea of an NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, seeking its direction to appoint a special investigation team by raising questions on the probe done by the government agencies.
In this case, the country’s premiere investigating agency has said that it has no objection to its investigation being monitored by another constitutional body, CVC, and opined that it will not have any impact on its effectiveness.
However, earlier, the CBI had opposed the idea of bringing the agency under the anti-corruption watchdog, the Lokpal.
At the time when country was witnessing high octane debate on the setting up of anti-graft body, the CBI had opined that “while setting up the institution of Lokpal, it must be ensured that the CBI’s legal authority or its operational effectiveness is not diluted in any manner”.
