Controversy around CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha: All you should know

CBI chief Ranjit Sinha has been given 10 days to respond to a request in the Supreme Court that seeks his removal from office for allegedly trying to protect companies and people who his agency is investigating on criminal charges.

Sinha has been accused by Prashant Bhushan of abusing his office as head of the country's premier investigating agency, CBI and giving undue favours to those involved in various scams.

Why CBI chief Ranjit Sinha is in dock?

An NGO CPIL has leveled allegations against CBI chief saying that he has been frequently meeting accused in 2G case and others being probed by the investigating agency. The Supreme Court even turned down Sinha's plea to restrain the media from broadcasting or publishing news stories based on the documents citing it as a hindrance to his right to privacy.

What has his entry register revealed?

Prashant Bhushan, appearing for CPIL, submitted the originals of the entry registers at Sinha's residence for the court's safekeeping. He also gave the names of 23 people who he said were working at Sinha's residence and four CBI constables who had duty at the gate of his residence. The judges asked him not to disclose the names in the open court on Monday saying it would do so "at the appropriate time".

What has NGO asked?

NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) has urged the court to make the CBI director stay away from the investigation into 2G spectrum scam cases and their trial by the special court that is holding day-to-day hearing of the matter.

What has the SC said?

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 8) asked CBI director Ranjit Sinha to respond to allegations by NGO CPIL that he has been frequently meeting those accused in the 2G case and others being probed by the investigating agency.

A bench of Chief Justice-designate Justice HL Dattu and Justice SA Bobde, while giving a week's time to the CBI director to respond to the allegations, said they want a fair trial in the 2G cases and would deal with it if there was some derailment of the trial.

Saying that "heavens will not fall" if the trial in 2G spectrum cases waited for a week, the court said: "The averments are very serious. We want a fair trial. We are monitoring the trial. If we feel that there is a derailment of the case, then we'll have to deal with it."

What has Ranjit Sinha said?

In his plea, Sinha submitted that his right to privacy and reputation was involved in the case and pleaded the court to restrain the media. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the CBI Director, raised questions on the veracity and source of the documents.

The CBI Director also refuted all the allegations made against him, saying all such statements are "patently false".

The latest development

CBI chief Ranjit Sinha has been given 10 days to respond to a request in the Supreme Court that seeks his removal from office for allegedly trying to protect companies and people who his agency is investigating on criminal charges. The court has fixed the next hearing for September 19.