New Delhi:
The CBI today told the Supreme Court that there is no need to consider investigating P Chidambaram's actions during the telecom scam. The investigating agency was referring to a note from the Finance Ministry that finds Mr Chidambaram did not act rigorously enough as Finance Minister in 2008 to ensure that valuable spectrum was sold at fair prices to companies.
The note - sent in March to the Prime Minister's Office - has turned into a searing controversy, mainly because notings establish it was "seen by" Pranab Mukherjee - suggesting that he endorsed its content.
The Opposition says Mr Chidambaram must be asked to resign on the basis of this document.
Subramanium Swamy, who is one of the main petitioners in the telecom case in the Supreme Court, had said that Mr Chidambaram, who is now Home Minister, deserves to be questioned on the basis of this note.
While the CBI argued that "the Finance Ministry note is nothing new," the Centre told the Supreme Court that the document will be examined by the CBI. The lawyer for the CBI took strong exception to this stand, and argued, "Someone can't put words into our mouth and say we will investigate. I strongly object to this statement. The CBI is an autonomous body."
The CBI's lawyer also said that the Finance Ministry note is a "conclusion drawn from a 500-page file which we had examined."
The government has so far backed Mr Chidambaram vociferously, with the Prime Minister stating that the Home Minister enjoys his "complete confidence." Mr Mukherjee has described Mr Chidambaram as "a pillar of strength" to the government in what's being seen as an attempt to assuage his upset colleague. Mr Chidambaram reportedly told the PM last week that the note against him is the result of an orchestrated campaign within the government against him.
While the Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation into the telecom scam, the case is actually being tried by a lower court. The government has argued that it should be upto this lower court to handle issues like whether to consider the Finance Ministry note against Mr Chidambaram. The Centre has also said that the Supreme Court need not monitor the 2G case anymore.