Court seeks urgent ‘action taken’ report from CBI in RAW graft case
12 Nov 2014
The director of the Central Bureau of investigation, Ranjit Sinha, was yesterday ordered by a court in New Delhi to place before it by today an 'action taken' report on "erring CBI officials" who did not follow the law in conducting searches in a corruption case.
The order directed Sinha to file the report on Wednesday after he and CBI's other top officers did not to comply with a 28 October direction to furnish written explanations and file an action taken report against the agency's erring officials.
The court also directed the concerned CBI Superintendent of Police (SP) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) to file their written submissions, if any, as to "why the matter be not proceeded against them for non-compliance with directions" issued on 21 October and 28 October.
"Copy of this order be given to Naib Court Constable Prem Shanker of CBI to be delivered in the office of worthy Director of CBI again for furnishing the requisite Action Taken Report (ATR) against erring officials on or before November 12, 2014 at 10.00 AM," Special CBI Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh said.
The order came in a case in which CBI had in October filed an FIR against unknown officials of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and a private firm for alleged irregularities in supplying high-altitude tents to a covert unit of the external intelligence agency.
The court noted that reasonable time had been granted to Supervisory Officers including SP, DIG and CBI director for written explanation and ATR against erring officials in terms of law laid and procedures established.
The court had on 28 October said despite clear directions to the officials to follow the law prescribed under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) while conducting searches, there was a "flagrant violation" of it and even mandate of legislature was not adhered to.
According to the CBI, an FIR in the case has been lodged against Sai Baba Builders and Consultants and its three directors Shyam Sunder Bhatter, J P N Singh and Manjari who is the wife of businessman S P Singh.
