Aam Aadmi Party leader and noted activist Prashant Bhushan has filed a complaint with the Delhi Government’s Anti-Corruption Branch accusing the Central Bureau of Investigation director Ranjit Sinha of criminal misconduct and abusing his office.
Highlighting that several accused in cases pertaining to corruption had met Mr. Sinha at his residence several times, without any of the investigation officers present, Mr. Bhushan alleged that the CBI director deliberately tried to save certain influential persons from prosecution in the 2G and coal scam.
“He has abused his position as the CBI director,” said Mr. Bhushan, who submitted the complaint on Tuesday.
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He added that Mr. Sinha had committed various offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to criminal misconduct by a public servant as well as under Section 217 and 218 of the Indian Penal Code.
“The offences of bribery can also be established by a thorough investigation,” said the complaint.
Mr. Bhushan requested that the matter be thoroughly and impartially investigated and an FIR registered. “Please note that registration of an FIR is mandatory (after the authoritative Supreme Court judgment of 2014) once there are allegations of cognisable offences having being committed. It is important to note that almost all the offences have been committed in the territory of Delhi,” said Mr. Bhushan.
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A CBI officer, on condition of anonymity, said the ACB could not probe the matter as it was outside its jurisdiction. Mr. Bhushan’s complaint mentions a Central Government notification issued in July 2014 that said the jurisdiction of the ACB and the Delhi Police shall not extend to the officers of the Central Government.
He, however, said the notification was in violation of the Criminal Procedure Code, which vests the jurisdiction of criminal cases on the State Police based on the territory and not on potential accused in the case.