Does CBI merit autonomy, Mr Ranjit Sinha?

Concerned over the dubious handling of politically-sensitive cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a group of eminent citizens have written to agency chief Ranjit Sinha seeking to know whether his force really needs autonomy.

In the letter, the group called India Rejuvenation Initiative comprising eminent persons like former CJI R C Lahoti, former CEC J M Lyngdoh, former CAG V K Shunglu, former Air Force chief S Krishnaswamy and former DGPs J F Ribeiro and Prakash Singh, said: ‘We are dismayed with the functioning of the CBI in quite a few cases, in which the organisation has

played it cool to the extent of dragging its feet.’

‘On the other hand, there have been cases where the organization has been over enthusiastic. The unmistakable impression one gets is that the CBI interest in a particular case is directly proportional to the ruling party's interest in the matter. lf the government wants a case to remain in cold storage, the CBI ensures that.’

‘Conversely, if the government wants a case to be given acceleration, the CBI obliges accordingly. This is a very disturbing state of affairs,’ the letter said.

Read the complete letter HERE