New Delhi: The CBI investigating its own former directors in a corruption case is a “violation of principles of natural justice”, a Delhi court said on Tuesday while pulling up the agency for slow pace of probe.
The CBI faced the wrath after its public prosecutor sought more time for the investigation.
Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal made the observation about the corruption case against controversial meat exporter Moin Akhtar Qureshi, in which the probe agency’s former directors – Ranjit Sinha and A P Singh – are among those under the scanner.
Four years have passed. In four years, no investigation has been done. How many more years will you take? Seven to ten more years?
CBI director is the accused, and the agency is itself investigating the case? I am surprised. This is violation of principle of natural justice, the judge said.
The agency informed the court that four of its recent orders have been challenged before the Delhi High Court.
Following the submission, the trial court adjourned the matter for November 24 for further hearing.
The CBI had lodged the case of alleged bribery against Qureshi in 2017.
During the investigation in the case the names of Sinha and Singh also came up and their alleged roles are being probed.
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That there is a move (requirement) to probe former CBI directors, either which way, is in itself damning and more damaging than the process.
Sad.