CBI expresses reservations over Lokpal, writes to Law Minister

New Delhi, Jan 14: CBI has written to the Union Law Minister

expressing reservations over the new provisions introduced through

where the agency will have to take the nod of Central Vigilance Commission before filing charge sheets in cases referred by the anti-corruption watchdog.

CBI officials were taken aback after a provision was brought in the Lokpal Bill by amending the CVC Act which said that in cases of corruption by group 'C' and 'D' officers, referred by the CVC, CBI will have to present its final report before the panel, agency sources said.

The sources said the agency has raised the issue that under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 the investigating officer, after concluding its probe in a given matter, files it final report before the competent magistrate only.

The provision introduced by the government sidelines section 173 of the CrPC which is a dilution of the agency's powers, they contended. In its representation before the Law Ministry, the agency has claimed that charge sheets cannot be shown to any authority other than the competent courts.

So far in the matters referred by CVC also, CBI investigated the cases and filed its final report before the competent magistrate but now under the new law, modifications have been made in the CVC Act as well.

PTI