At least one investigating officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation has complained to agency director Anil Sinha that “huge amounts” of money had “exchanged hands” and that corrupt senior officers were tainting some probes related to the coal allocation scam. In a three-page anonymous complaint, it was alleged that some CBI officers were taking bribes from companies to resolve cases and to weaken those where payments were made, The Indian Express reported.
The complaint, which reached the agency late March and was signed by “Honest IOs, CBI”, alleges that on one occasion, a case that was reported closed to the Supreme Court was reopened when the director of the company being examined refused to offer kickbacks. Officials confirmed that the letter was written by at least one investigating officer with “first-hand experience” of what he claimed in the complaint.
Others in the agency affirmed that Sinha had made note of the complaint as it mentioned 24 specific cases with details not in the public domain, owing to orders from the Supreme Court to maintain strict confidentiality of the investigations.
Only a team of investigating and senior CBI officers, Central Vigilance Commission officers, specially-appointed lawyers and retired CBI special director ML Sharma were privy to the details of the investigations, in accordance with a Supreme Court order. In an emailed response to the daily, a CBI spokesperson said, “As per directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the CBI is not in a position to share any information relating to inquiry/investigation in coal cases.”
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!