SC allows new CBI director to take charge of 2G probe

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed new Central Bureau of Investigation Director Anil Kumar Sinha to take charge of the investigation and prosecution in the 2G scam cases, over three weeks after it had removed his predecessor from the probe following allegations of trying to protect some accused.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu allowed the submission of senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for the probe agency, that the new CBI chief be allowed to oversee the 2G cases.

"We are informed by K K Venugopal, appearing for the CBI, that Anil Kumar Sinha has been appointed as the CBI director. In lieu of the subsequent development, we permit him to take over the investigation in the case," the bench said.

Earlier,the bench had removed the then CBI director Ranjit Sinha from 2G cases, saying the allegations against him of protecting some accused appear to be "prima facie credible".

During the last hearing on November 20, the apex court had passed a brief order directing Ranjit Sinha, who retired on December 2, to keep himself away from 2G cases and "not to interfere in the investigation and trial of the 2G cases and recuse himself from them".

"For us, it appears that all is not well and prima facie it seems that allegations made in the application by the non-government organsation has some credibility," the apex court had said while hearing the case related to allegations by the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, that Ranjit Sinha might have tried to save some accused in 2G spectrum scam.

Image: CBI director Anil Kumar Sinha