On a day when the Supreme Court came down heavily on the CBI for sharing the status report on the coal scam with the political executive, CBI director Ranjit Sinha said that he showed the status report to the Law Minister and not to any “outsider.”
When asked whether he had shaken the foundations of the CBI by showing the report to the Law Minister, Sinha said: “See I am part of the government. I am not an independent organisation and I have not shown (the status report) to some outsider, but the Law Minister of the country. And whatever situation has arisen out of the same, I will give the information to the Supreme Court and will accept whatever decision taken by them.”
Later, the CBI clarified Sinha’s statement. It may be clarified that the Director, CBI in a statement to the press this evening, in response to a query, wished to express the following, “The CBI does not exist in isolation. We are part of a system and need to consult and take opinion on certain occasions.” Sinha said that the CBI has been asked by the Supreme Court to file a fresh affidavit by May 6. He said the agency would give all the details in the affidavit.
When asked whether he succumbed to government pressure, Sinha said he did not think so.
“I will give the Supreme Court all details regarding the situations prevailing then,” the CBI chief said.
When asked about the apex court coming down heavily on the agency, Sinha said: “I don’t think that the honourable judges meant any such thing. We will explain the entire circumstances to the honourable court, and I am sure whatever directions they will give, it will be for the benefit of the organisation. We will be greatly benefited by whatever direction the apex court gives.” When asked whether he will take moral responsibility for the whole situation, Sinha said that he did not think there was any embarrassment. “The honourable Supreme Court has made some observations. We will give reply to all the queries that they have made. And I am sure that the SC will take a very reasonable view about this,” he said.
Asked whether he broke the trust of the Supreme Court by showing the report to the political executive before submitting it before the court, Sinha said that he did not think so.
“Even today, I have given the information about the whole things to the Supreme Court in a sealed cover,” Sinha said.