Setback for CBI chief in visitor logbook case
The bench agreed to hear the plea of the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation
New Delhi: In an apparent setback to CBI director Ranjit Sinha, the Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea for hearing allegations levelled against him without “insisting” on knowing the name of the “whistleblower” who brought to light the controversial visitors’ logbook of Mr Sinha’s official residence. A bench headed by Justice H.L. Dattu sought the assistance of the special public prosecutor (SPP), appointed by it for trial in the 2G spectrum cases, saying that any order passed by it may have ramifications on the multi-crore scam cases.
The bench agreed to hear the plea of the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, which pleaded for re-call of the court’s earlier order asking it to reveal the name of the whistleblower in a sealed envelope. The SC directed that all documents, including CBI files and the visitors’ logbook be handed over to special public prosecutor Anand Grover, who will assist the court on next date of hearing on October 10.
Advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the NGO, and Prashant Bhushan tendered an unconditional apology before the SC for their “inability” to reveal the name of the whistleblower. The SC turned down the plea of Mr Sinha’s counsel Vikas Singh that it should not hear the case any further in view of the NGO refusing to disclose the name of the “mole” who leaked the documents.
Meanwhile More time to CBI for clarifying Birla clean chit
A special CBI court on Monday gave more time to the national probe agency to clarify queries in connection with a closure report filed in coal block allocation case against top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others. The court fixed October 13 as the next date of hearing after the special public prosecutor R.S. Cheema told the court that the officers concerned concerned were not available and therefore, they had needed some more time. The court was hearing the closure report filed by CBI on August 28 in its FIR lodged against Mr Birla, former coal secretary P.C. Parakh and others.