CBI chief Ranjit Sinha files affidavit in SC, denies allegations

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Ranjit Sinha on Friday filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court denying allegations of manipulations during alleged meetings with high-profile accused in the 2G and coal block allocation scams.

The affidavit has been filed in compliance with the 8 September order of the apex court directing the CBI chief to respond to the averments made against him that the court said were 'serious' in nature (See: Sinha diaries: SC gives CBI chief 10 more days to respond).http://www.domain-b.com/economy/Govt/20140909_ranjit_sinha.html

During the last hearing, the bench had taken serious objection to Sinha's reluctance to file an affidavit on merits of the petition seeking a direction to the Centre to take steps for his removal and for ordering an SIT probe against him for allegedly abusing his authority.

The bench had taken on record a register of entry list / guest list, including top officials of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), the CBI director's residence 2 Janpath, which was handed over by advocate Prashant Bhushan in a sealed envelope.

''The averments are very serious and the CBI director can't say that even if the averments are serious, he won't file any reply… if there is derailment of investigation, this court will have to take a strong view,'' said the bench, asking Sinha's counsel Vikas Singh to file the affidavit.

The court reminded CBI director that the SC was monitoring the CBI probe into the 2G cases, while turning down his contention that some of the materials could fall in the category of ''privileged communication,'' enjoying immunity under the Evidence Act.

Singh had also sought to assert that CBI chief was heading the premier investigating agency and that directing him to file an affidavit on merits of the matter, as to how he arrived at decisions regarding prosecution in some cases or dropping some cases, may affect the 2G trial as well.

''You don't worry about the trial. We are monitoring it. This court wants a very, very fair trial. Don't forget, it was only at our instance you have taken over the investigation. On that day, we could have said that investigation would be done by so and so (some other) agency…this court may draw adverse inference too in case you decide not to file a reply,'' said the bench, snubbing all the contentions by Sinha's counsel. 

The court had asked the CBI director to file the affidavit, saying, ''Whatever you want to tell us, tell us in black and white.''

Sinha, who filed his affidavit in a sealed cover, also requested the court to initiate a perjury case against Prashant Bhushan, counsel for the petitioner- NGO - Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) - for providing the court with purportedly wrong information.

A bench, headed by Justice H L Dattu fixed the matter for hearing on 15 September.