Q: CVC steps in, tells CBI give us the full facts

After the Supreme Court, it’s the Central Vigilance Commission. In an unprecedented move, it has stepped in to ask uncomfortable questi...

After the Supreme Court, it’s the Central Vigilance Commission. In an unprecedented move, it has stepped in to ask uncomfortable questions of the CBI which did a dramatic U-turn yesterday absolving the Government of all blame despite evidence to the contrary.

“The defreezing of (Bofors-accused Ottavio Quattrocchi’s) bank accounts was news to us,” a surprised Central Vigilance Commissioner told The Indian Express today. “We have asked the CBI for a complete factual position on the case.’’

Under Supreme Court guidelines, the CBI is not meant to include cases in progress as part of its review with the CVC. But Shankar said that the Quattrocchi case raised “pertinent points” on whether such cases could be included in the review.

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‘‘We want to get the facts to see whether some relevant issues should have come within the ambit of CVC superintendence. If not, can we look at the current mechanism of superintendence and not be taken by surprise in future. We basically want to have a better understanding of our own rules and see if changes need to be made. The sooner this is settled the better it will be for the CVC fulfils an important statutory requirement.’’

On the handling of the Quattrocchi matter by the CBI, Shankar said, ‘‘There appear to be seeming contradictions in the statements made by the agency a few days ago and in the press conference addressed by a Joint Director. That is why we have asked for the facts of the case.’’

On the role of the Government’s Law officers in guiding the progress of CBI cases, the CVC said that he had already dealt with the subject in his 2004 annual report (the latest): ‘‘Appeals to be preferred against lower court judgments by CBI are also subject to Government approval through the Law Ministry again. This compromises the independence of the CBI.’’

Ritu Sarin

Ritu Sarin is Executive Editor (News and Investigations) at The Indian Express group. Her areas of specialisation include internal security, money laundering and corruption. Sarin is one of India’s most renowned reporters and has a career in journalism of over four decades. She is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) since 1999 and since early 2023, a member of its Board of Directors. She has also been a founder member of the ICIJ Network Committee (INC). She has, to begin with, alone, and later led teams which have worked on ICIJ’s Offshore Leaks, Swiss Leaks, the Pulitzer Prize winning Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Implant Files, Fincen Files, Pandora Papers, the Uber Files and Deforestation Inc. She has conducted investigative journalism workshops and addressed investigative journalism conferences with a specialisation on collaborative journalism in several countries. ... Read More

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