In a strong indictment of the Union government, the Supreme Court on Friday questioned the continuation of communications and IT minister A. Raja in the ministry when the CBI is probing allegations of corruption against him in the 2G spectrum scam case.
“The complaint is lodged in 2009. The same minister is continuing. Is that the way the government is functioning? Is it the rule of the law? You follow the same standards in respect of every one (read minister)?” an exasperated bench comprising Justices G.S. Singhvi and A.K. Patnaik observed.
The strong words from the top court came while putting a series of queries to ASG Haren Rawal on the “slow” progress of investigation after the bench had gone through the two draft reports of the CAG on the 2G spectrum controversy, placed before it on October 21. As Mr Rawal said the CBI was given the case in October 2009 and needed more time to complete the investigation, Justice Ganguly said, “One year has gone by, how long will you (CBI) take? ... Another 10 years... It is a very slip-shod investigation. Your are dragging your feet.”
Stating that the CBI has to examine “enormous material” as the issue was “very complex”, and that the agency has examined more than 5,800 call records to ensure the probe was on the “right track”, Mr Rawal said at least another six months were required.
“A proper plan of action has been drawn up. Officers with high integrity have been entrusted with the investigation, if the CBI fails to do anything, then the court should decide,” he said. At this Justice Singhvi quipped that all the officers in the agency should have integrity but that the main question here was why 2G spectrum was allotted in 2007 at the 2001 price. Responding to the last query, Mr Rawal, who appeared specifically for the CBI, said, “I am not representing the Department of Telecom in this case.”