As former Union minister P. Chidambaram faces arrest for alleged corruption in the INX Media case, it is worth remembering that Chidambaram was the home minister when Amit Shah was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on charges of murder in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Today, Amit Shah is the home minister.
Since 2014, the Narendra Modi government has been relentlessly pursuing corruption allegations against opposition leaders. Raids and summons intensify especially when an election is around the corner. But this is not a fight against corruption because if it was one, it wouldn’t spare BJP leaders accused of corruption.
The selective nature of this ‘anti-corruption’ agenda makes it a witch-hunt. This witch-hunt stands in sharp contrast to the Modi government’s refusal to have the controversial Rafale deal investigated, or to the manner in which it dragged its feet over appointing a Lokpal for five years.
Also read: SC won’t give urgent hearing to Chidambaram’s plea seeking protection from arrest
Here are some politicians the CBI and other investigating agencies have been soft on, despite corruption charges against them.
1. B.S. Yediyurappa: He has become Karnataka’s chief minister again despite being the very image of corruption in Karnataka. Accused in land and mining scams, with diaries recovered from his possession showing hefty amounts being paid to top BJP leaders, judges and advocates, Yediyurappa today stands tall, acquitted of most of the charges. The same CBI that was investigating him for years couldn’t furnish enough evidence against him when the Modi government came to power. The Supreme Court might yet order investigations against him in a land scam.
2. Reddy brothers of Bellary: Before the Karnataka elections in 2018, the CBI quickly concluded its investigations into mining scams worth Rs 16,500 crore against the Bellary brothers without pursuing the cases to their logical ends. For such audacious plundering of India’s wealth, the Modi government let the Bellary brothers go scot-free because the BJP needs them to win A forest service officer who was the whistleblower in this case was sacked by the Modi government earlier this month.
Also read: CBI’s ‘clean chit’ to Reddy brothers in mining scam blows holes in BJP’s corruption plank
3. Himanta Biswa Sarma: The Amit Shah of the Northeast, as he is called, Himanta Biswa Sarma was once a member of the Congress party and faced corruption charges. The BJP had waged a full campaign, even releasing a booklet, accusing Sarma of being the “key suspect” in the water supply scam in Guwahati. The scam is known as the Louis Berger case because of the involvement of the American construction management company. There’s even a chargesheet by the US Department of Justice under the country’s Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, alleging that the company paid bribes to an unnamed minister. From claiming that the minister was Sarma to inducting him into the party, the BJP came a long way. The Assam government has predictably gone slow on the investigations, and the BJP hasn’t followed up with its own old demand to hand over the case to the CBI.
4. Shivraj Singh Chouhan: The CBI in 2017 gave then-Madhya Pradesh chief minister a clean chit in the Vyapam scam. Would Shivraj Singh Chouhan have gotten away had he been a member of the Congress? A huge entrance exam scam, it has seen whistleblowers and witnesses die mysteriously one after another, more than 40 by some media estimates.
5. Mukul Roy: As the BJP needed to expand its organisational base in West Bengal, it inducted scam-tainted Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy in its fold. Roy joined the party soon after the Enforcement Directorate had summoned him in the Narada ‘sting’ case, an undercover operation by a local news channel that showed several other top TMC leaders accepting bribes. Roy is also an accused in the Saradha chit fund scam. The law, he says, will take its own course. Somehow, the law’s course towards him has slowed in its pace since he joined the BJP.
Also read: Corruption is like ‘termites’ — PM Modi justifies tough approach against civil servants
6. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’: He is India’s minister for human resource development. As Uttarakhand chief minister, he was at the centre of two big scams: one regarding land and the other regarding hydro-electric projects. The image of his regime, which was hit by various corruption cases, was so bad that the BJP forced him to resign in 2011. Of course, neither the CBI nor the Uttarakhand government is in any hurry to get to the bottom of the corruption charges. Far from being investigated, Ramesh Pokhriyal now holds an important portfolio in Modi’s
7. Narayan Rane: The BJP last year inducted former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane into the party and made him a Rajya Sabha MP. The CBI and the ED are no longer rushing to investigate Rane or raid his properties. Rane has been accused of money laundering and land scams. His is the “first family of controversies” in Maharashtra politics.
Views are personal.
Can’t believe the writer forgot to mention the biggest corrupt in India right now that CBI and ED is not even talking about raiding, it is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Corrupt king Jagan Mohan Reddy, he is piece of shit who accumulated illegal assets worth $8 Billion that is 48000 crores by illegal means, according to CBI charge sheets, but nobody talks about this.
Being formal than let’s ask govt to show all the spending to all the common people in this country can’t we make it as right to information on were govt is spending our tax paid amount the account should be shown and audit should be done and publish this article in public domain so all the country citizens can see. From the street to the city and village each and every penny should be shown as govt checks ours in the name of Account transparency.
Dirty politics, हम सबको एक बात पे गौर करनी चाहिये, इन सबको ये गंदि राजनीति करने की ताक़त हम सबके चुप रेहने की वजह से मिलती है ?आखिर कब तक ऐसा चलेगा? अग़र हम सब चाहते तो एक बेहतर कल बना सकते हैं, सिर्फ़ एक कागज़ के टुकड़ो कॆ लिये दुसरे की जिन्दगी के साथ खेलते है़ ,सर्म आती है ऐसी झुठी ज़िन्दगी जिते हुए| shame of all you….jaanwaro se bhi bekaar h hm sb aise jindagi se accha mar jana hi behatar h .jaha sacchayi jaan k bhi kuch ukhaad nhi pAate unka….
The print is becoming clean day by day
What a courageous article it needs guts and the print got them
Let them go against individual who is involved in corrupt practices and put him behind bars. They should close the case in this term or else somebody will come and put it in back burner. Similarly, next government should take up the cases of their opponents and put them behind bars. Normally they don’t take any actions because they fear the role may be reversed in next term
The good thing is political rivalry is more open than before. India is not a Banana Republic, there will always be change of guard at the centre and the new team would chase on those who are getting away today. Complacency, corruption, arrogance have always brought big empires to their knees. Nothing is infallible.
In Karnataka a person who lost election last time, and two MLAs who were caught watching Porn in the Assembly, are Ministers now. PM and Amit Shaha MUST look out. Else 1971 story will repeat.
Why Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s name not included? Those who joined the ruling party, their investigation has been slowed down. Not only politicians even celebrities like actors etc., their cases will go on slow pace because of their money power.
Dear The Print, would u like to tell me how to block you. Bcs i dont want to see your congress biased news. Otherwise God give good thoughts.
#MUKESH KUMAR. Why dont you go to hell? that way you dont have to open your eyes and read and facts.
Typical instance of “shooting the messenger” – as is wont for some time now. Jai Bharat
0 I can’t praise that one corrupt is being brought to justice. But i can be a cry baby and complaint about all the people that’s not being caught. You can wait till Congress comes to power . That’s like in next 100 years if it ever happens. Lol
Tumhara kyon jaal raha hai be ?I know you can not tolerate it, when something happens right in this country. It’s the ass licking culture in this country and among journalist that made possible corrupts behave as legend.
Intemperate response.
WTF Print? You know very well that Rafale deal has been exonerated by Supreme Court not once but twice!
Same thing for Amit Shah. You guys are not bigger wellwishers of judge Loya than his own family.
Shame on you for spreading falsehood in the name of journalism!
Truth’hurts Simple. Or BJP politicians are angels
Idiots are writing such articles and idiots are supporting…. Have fun
Idiots also support dramatists who win elections through emotions than substance
Are unhappy that coruppt politicians is caught. don’t you believe in constitution and free and fair judiciary of India. What a problem why you are crying. Are supporting secular corruption.
YhM Name any one leader from PM to local Panchayat leader who is not corrupt – shal-om n grace a i YhM
The roots of corruption has been so deep in our country ,it is impossible to uproot them until politicians change their mindset . Congress had already done so many corruptions , although BJP has not done corruption but it gives licence to those who had been involved in scams joins BJP from Congress. How can we claim that BJP has clean image if it’s state leaders have been accused of so many scams.
I agree with
Douglas Pereira
22 August, 2019 at 3:15 pm
Both the Congress and BJP are corrupt and should be banned permanently, all their ministers should be jailed. Call in the Army and lock all corrupt, fraud, murders masquerading as politicians today.
India needs a Anti Corruption Revolution and lock these goons up once and for all, preferably at an undisclosed location.
Agreed execute them in public alongwith their Stooges from Court judges (SC to trial courts) ECIs, CBI, NIA, POLICE & MILITARY Commanders appointed by them, serving their nefarious cause.
I would like to call Print as Misprint. They are totally writing like Congress newspaper. Pathetic journalism.
What you are trying to say is when in power they can loot and no body should question them later.
Print is asking you let them out why not me. Looks like Print has unique journalistic ethics.
When in Congress he was looting you didn’t complain but when joined BJP you are weeping like a child.
Good luck Print for your reporting.
The Print didn’t exist prior to 2014
Trying very hard to justify and support P Chidambaram. U guys are quite faithful to your owners….
OMG!! Was Congress/Gandi Family/ & The Leftist MEDIA Or Politicians Were EVER Selective?? NEVER!!
Pehlu Khan denied justice under Gehlot govt IS Front Page News!! Harish Jatav killed by a Muslim mob in Alwar & denied justice While his father commits suicide Is NO NEWS!!
Leftist Hypocrisy & Bastardized Versions Of Secularism, Justice Etc. Stands EXPOSED!! How Long Will You Continue??!!
Please name a few corrupt people from ThePrint as well whom CBI and ED has not raided. Are you going to file a case against one of your own ? It is for the opposition and media to file a case and put pressure so that all corrupts get what they deserve. This is pathetic reporting.
All this can happened only in India.why do we blame them it’s we the dumheaded people of India who voted them to power if we keep aside our differences of cast, Creed,greed and use our head to vote for the right person our country will be the best but the policy of devide and rule still excist and we fall in the trap
Is ThePrint is a media house or a dalla?
People from the top have to be handled for corruption, then come down tolesser leaders. After leaders at the top are convicted, it will be the turn of the lower level ministers, babus, etc. Everyone’s turn will come. If you are eager to pursue your own case, file a PIL. You will not be sorry.