Can CBI prove Kalmadi has dementia, ask students

Can the Central Bureau of Investigation prove that jailed Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has dementia?

CBI officials faced a barrage of such questions by a group of school students who met them on Friday to understand the functioning of the probe agency.

A total of 55 students of class XI and XII from Modern School, Barakhamba road, visited the CBI headquarters in New Delhi as part of the probe agency's initiative to inform and educate school students about anti-corruption measures and their use by citizens.

Abhishek, a student of humanities stream, asked agency officials how the CBI proposed to keep its credibility intact and not be accused of aligning with political affiliations?

"We are definitely endeavouring towards doing the right and the best. We may not be the best organisation but we are endeavouring to the best in every right... the officers out here are of impeccable integrity and they are trying to deliver the best of what is expected of them," CBI Deputy Inspector General of Police Tilottama Verma told students.

Verma along with other officials explained that CBI has specific roles to perform in investigations and issues like medical history and a few legal points of a person under probe are dealt in consultation with various other agencies.

"So in this case, (Suresh Kalmadi) the person has to consult doctors. We do not have a medical wing under us which can give an answer," Verma said when a student asked if recent reports about Kalmadi suffering from dementia could be proved by CBI. Kalmadi on Thursday clarified to the media that he has no brain problem albeit he has some cardiac complications.

The students, dressed in their uniforms and sporting badges 'Let us kill corruption', were happy to get themselves caught 'red handed' at the agency's forensic lab after they were told about the use of various chemicals to nab bribe takers.

The polygraph test, done by the agency on individuals in complex cases, was also one of the most thronged counters as the students stood curiously understanding the nuances of the operation of electronic gadgets along with simulated questions put to a person under probe.

"The students were very curious to know more about the polygraph machine and the forensic tests conducted by the CBI. They have read so much about these techniques in various forms of media," Geeta Chhadha, the teacher who accompanied these students, said.

The students were also taken to the CBI museum and the Forensic Science Laboratory where a demonstration was given to them on how fingerprints and other evidences are collected from crime scene.

Along with DIG Verma, DIG (Training) Sujit Pandey, Interpol unit chief M M Oberoi and agency spokesperson Dharini Mishra interacted with the students for about 45 minutes.

"I think the CBI does not get the credit that they deserve despite the hard work they do. It was informative to know about the agency's functioning and I think we feel more confident in tackling corruption instances now that the officers have talked to us and have extended their support," Pranay Lekhi, a student of class XI said.

This is the second such interaction of school students with the agency and CBI proposes to hold more such programmes later.