Protect identity of complainant, stick to probe deadline, CBI chief tells officers

The government had in March 2020 issued a format for filing corruption complaints against public servants with the Lokpal.

Sources told The Indian Express that the CBI Director recently issued these directions, asking officials to protect the identity of the complainant during the preliminary inquiry. “It was conveyed that the Lokpal underlined that the identity of the complainant should be protected and that’s why, the complainant may not be directly contacted or examined in ordinary course. If there is a compelling requirement for collecting some important document or some information, and the IO wants to contact the complainant, in such a situation, the IO should should send a proposal justifying the reasons to the policy division for further taking up the matter with the office of the Lokpal,” sources said.

Sources said it was also conveyed that the agency should not entertain any request from the complainant for withdrawing the complaint, during the preliminary inquiry. “The IOs should inquire all the allegations levelled by the complainant in the complaint during the preliminary inquiry and should focus on the allegations and not on the peripheral issues,” sources said, citing the directions.

It has been also conveyed to the CBI officials that the preliminary inquiry should be conducted with promptness and concluded within the deadline as prescribed by the Lokpal.