CBI can withhold info on graft cases, says CIC

The  Central Information Commission (CIC) on Friday said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been exempted from revealing  details of its investigations into allegations of corruption.

While hearing an RTI plea, Chief Information Commissioner Satyanand Mishra ruled that since its inclusion in the Second Schedule of the RTI Act, the CBI has been exempted from disclosing details of corruption cases.

Mishra, however, noted that the CBI is obliged to provide information on the allegations of corruption and human rights violation against its employees.

The appellant, Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, had sought information on the cases filed by the CBI against former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren.

Aggarwal moved the CIC after the Chief Public Information Officer of the CBI refused to provide information on these cases currently under investigation.