V K Singh case: Court wants CBI to show ‘sensitive’ papers

A Sessions Court on Tuesday told the CBI, inquiring into the case against former RAW officer Major General V K Singh...

A Sessions Court on Tuesday told the CBI, inquiring into the case against former RAW officer Major General V K Singh (Retd), that it cannot take a decision on its demand to hold an in-camera trial unless the agency proves that the documents related to the case were of very sensitive nature.

The CBI, in a previous hearing on November 5, had filed an application in the court of Additional Sessions Judge KS Mohi seeking permission to hold an in-camera trial. Singh, a former Joint Secretary in the Research and Analysis Wing, was booked under Section 5 (wrongful communication of information) of the Official Secrets Act for writing a book India’s External Intelligence: Secrets of RAW.

On Tuesday, the counsel for the CBI, argued before the court that various references and portions of the officer’s book were related to files that were marked secret. The court, however, told CBI that without having any idea of what the CBI was referring to, it could not come to a conclusion. The CBI officials then said that they could present those documents in the court, on condition that those not connected with the case should not to be allowed inside.

The counsel for V K Singh, Anup Khullar, however, claimed that the CBI was keen on getting an in-camera trial because of “critical” reports that appeared in various newspapers and on some channels. Khullar cited various newspaper reports and said that V K Singh was targeted as he had mentioned an incident involving an officer in his book. According to Khullar, the officer had gone on a long leave after he was ignored for promotion. This officer mentioned in the book was identified as Ashok Chaturvedi, the present RAW chief, claimed Singh’s counsel.

The counsel for Singh also claimed that his client was a whistle-blower who tried to expose corruption in the agency. He had mentioned in his book that RAW had purchased certain antennas at a price much higher than the price at which the Army had bought them. “The tender for the purchase was on the internet. Anyway, is corruption an official secret?” Khullar asked.

Singh’s counsel also said that his client had been booked under the Official Secrets Act for writing a book which was available in the market for three months and still had not been banned.

The CBI had raided the residence of Singh in Gurgaon after the Government filed a complaint with the agency. Singh was on deputation from the Army to RAW between 2000 and 2004. The case is now slated to come up for hearing on December 10.