The Opposition and activists have been pointing fingers at the selective approach of the CBI and other central agencies towards various cases since the Modi government came to power, to accuse the Centre of extensive misuse of the state machinery.
Among the cases where the CBI is accused of selective amnesia, or playing to the masters, include cases against BJP president Amit Shah and against Hindu fringe groups that are allegedly involved in acts of terrorism. The CBI did not take legal recourse against the discharge of Shah in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh fake encounter case. He was discharged way back in Dec. 30, 2014. And in November 2015, Sohrabuddin’s brother retracted the application against the discharge of Shah. However, the CBI has been overenthusiastic in cases against Teesta Setalvad, who played a leading role in bringing to book at least some of the culprits of the 2002 Gujarat riots, critics have pointed out.
Other agencies such as the National Investigation Agency and Enforcement Directorate are also accused of such selective action. The Congress has accused PMO of political vendetta in the National Herald case. To buttress their argument of vendetta, opposition has been pointing fingers at the sheer coincidence in the CBI raids on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Veerbhadra Singh in Sept. 2015 on the day of his daughter’s wedding.
