CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha to resign?

A day after Supreme Court asked Ranjit Sinha to recuse himself from 2G scam probe, the pressure mounting on him to submit his resignation, 12 days prior to his retirement. Although yesterday he showed no sign of embarrassment or remorse in public after the SC ordered him “not to interfere” in the investigation, but it was enough for him to step down himself before the government launched probe into his controversial tenure.

Ranjit Sinha has repeatedly embarrassed India’s leading investigative agency during his term as the chief of the bureau. His meetings with the influential people accused in cases in his own house, trying to shied politicians in number of cases, have always created uncomfortable situation for the CBI. This is not the first time when the Apex Court slammed him. Earlier the court had called him ‘caged parrot’.

But yesterday’s shocker was hugely discomforting for even Sinha. SC not only expressed its no-confidence in him, the bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu, Justice M B Lokur and Justice A K Sikri said “all was not well” with Sinha’s actions in handling the 2G case. The court iterated that the NGO, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, had “some credibility” when they accused Ranjit Sinha and observed that allegations made against him “seemed prima facie credible”.

“We direct CBI Director Ranjit Sinha not to interfere in the 2G spectrum investigation and trial. The next seniormost officers of the investigation team would take over from Sinha and continue proceedings,” the bench said.

“For us, it appears that all is not well and prima facie it seems that allegations made in the application by NGO have some credibility,” said the Supreme Court.

The petitioner Prashant Bhushan asked Sinha’s resignation.

“He should resign immediately. The court has asked him to recuse himself from this case after a detailed report from the Special Public Prosecutor severely indicted him and found him guilty of unfairly interfering in the trial in order to help the accused and derail the cases. The government should now suspend him and initiate a disciplinary inquiry against him,” Bhushan said.

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!