File photo: CBI Director Ranjit Sinha
The Supreme Court will today examine allegations that CBI Director Ranjit Sinha compromised investigations into the spectrum and coal scams.
An NGO, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, has accused Mr Sinha of irregularities in the 2G scam probe and produced a record of visitors at his residence indicating that some of the scam-accused called on the CBI chief.
Last week, Mr Sinha filed two affidavits before the court - one in the sealed cover - refuting all the allegations and the other questioning the petitioner.
Mr Sinha explained why he met some of the accused in those scams at his Delhi home to NDTV. "I have a residential office and there are many persons who would not like to meet me at the CBI Headquarters due to the undue publicity they would receive." He stressed in his interview, as he has in his affidavit to the Supreme Court, "Nobody can say I have shown any favours to persons I have allegedly met."
The CBI chief has also told the court that the petitioner is bound by a previous judgement to disclose the source of the visitors' register.
The NGO is represented in court by lawyer-activist Prashant Bhushan, who has accused Mr Sinha of trying to protect some of the powerful people accused of links to the scandals. Mr Bhushan is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP.
Sources close to Mr Sinha say that he has stressed that contrary to what Mr Bhushan has alleged, he overruled his team to make the case stronger against some of the accused. As an example, in his affidavit to the Supreme Court, he has allegedly cited the Aircel-Maxis case. The CBI chief says he insisted on tougher charge against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran who has been accused of misusing his office to help a Malaysia-based billionaire acquire the telecom Aircel, allegedly in exchange for a massive investment in a media firm owned by Mr Maran's brother.