News Analysis India

Tag: CBI

  • Bengal post-poll violence: CBI files three more FIRs, total 31 cases registered

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The CBI, as part of its probe into cases of post-poll violence in West Bengal, has filed three new FIRs in two places, agency sources said on Tuesday.

    According to the sources, the cases were filed in Purba Medinipur’s Nandigram and Cooch Behar’s Sitalkuchi areas.

    As many as 31 cases have been filed so far by the agency.

    ALSO READ | Accused in West Bengal post-poll clashes shown absconding: CBI

    After the TMC stormed back to power, the BJP accused the ruling party workers of unleashing violence on its members, leaving several of them dead.

    The saffron camp also claimed that many homes of party activists have been destroyed, and women raped in various parts of the state.

    The Calcutta High Court, after taking cognisance of an NHRC report on post-poll violence, handed over the probe to the CBI.

  • CBI registers 10 more FIRs over Bengal election violence

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA:  In the 24 hours since Saturday evening, the CBI registered 10 more FIRs in connection with the post-poll violence in West Bengal. So far, 21 FIRs have been registered.  

    “Our teams visited Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas, Domjur in Howrah and Chapra in Nadia district. We came across evidences of post-poll violence as proof of rampage is still visible in the houses of the complainants,’’ said a CBI officer.

    Taking a note of the report submitted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kolkata High Court had recently ordered a CBI probe into the violence.

    The central agency on Saturday arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with a murder case in Nadia’s Chapra.

    The CBI said they faced resistance on Saturday while carrying out a search operation  in Nadia. “During a search operation in the district, our vehicles were intercepted by TMC supporters. They wanted us to leave the area. With the help of security personnel, we carried out the search operations,’’ said a CBI official.   

  • CBI FIR against Anil Deshmukh despite giving him clean chit in extortion case

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:   The CBI on Sunday registered an FIR against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with an extortion case though the investigating officer of the bureau in a preliminary investigation gave a clean chit to Deshmukh.

    Former Maharashtra police chief Param Bir Singh had accused Deshmukh of directing a police officer to collect over Rs 100 crore from bars in Mumbai every month.

    The Maha Vikas Aghadi government raised questions over the functioning of the Central probe agency and said the actions against Anil Deshmukh were political vendetta.

    NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said the Bombay High Court had asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary probe into the allegations made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh and submit a report.

    “However, the Investigation Officer (IO) of CBI conducted the probe, and he, in his report stated that there is no evidence against Anil Deshmukh and he had not committed any cognisable offence. He asked the closing the probe. But the senior officers of the CBI who under political influence overruled the IO probe and filed the FIR against the Deshmukh. It means that this is a political case to the High court should intervene and close the probe against the former minister of Maharashtra,” Malik added.

    The CBI released a statement saying the FIR has been filed so that the probe can be continued.

    Sachin Sawant, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson demanded a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry to find out at whose behest the CBI changed its stand by overruling IO report.

    “The High Court had only asked to conduct the preliminary probe, but CBI misguided the court over the probe and filed the FIR against Deshmukh. This major crime is done by the CBI, therefore Union minister home minister Amit Shah must take responsibility for the misuse of Central probe agency and should step down,” Sawant said.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra transport minister, Anil Parab was on Sunday hit with an Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice in connection with a money laundering case. It comes days after he was caught on camera directing the police to arrest BJP leader and Union minister Narayan Rane.

    Parab, 56, is also a minister of parliamentary affairs in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and is a three-term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

    Officials said he has been asked by the ED to depose before the investigating officer of the case at the agency’s office in south Mumbai on Tuesday.

    They said Parab is to be questioned in the money laundering case being investigated against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh after certain “disclosures” have been made by other accused and those involved in the case.

    Reacting to the summon, Shiv Sena MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the ED notice to Parab was “expected” and the party would fight it legally.

    “Well done. As soon as the Jan Ashirwad Yatra concluded, Anil Parab has been served ED notice as expected. The central government has begun its work. The epicentre of the earthquake was Ratnagiri. Parab is the district guardian minister. Understand the chronology. Will fight legal battle legally. Jai Maharashtra,” Raut tweeted.

    Union minister Rane was recently arrested from Ratnagiri for his comment that he would have “slapped” CM Thackeray.

    Rane, a bete noire of both Shiv Sena and Thackeray, had made the remark during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra.

    The latest summons pertain to the criminal investigation being carried out by the ED in the alleged Rs 100 crore bribery-cum-extortion racket in the Maharashtra police establishment that led to Deshmukh’s resignation in April.

    The ED case against Deshmukh, who was earlier the home minister in the MVA government, and others came after the CBI booked him in the corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribe made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    Deshmukh, who had skipped ED summons at least five times till now, had said that Singh made the allegations against him after he was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner.

    The ED may question Parab about the statements it has twice recorded of jailed police officer and another accused in this case, Sachin Waze.

    Waze was arrested by the NIA in the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV from near the Mumbai house of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

    Waze had earlier alleged in a letter he sought to submit before a court that in January 2021, Parab asked him to look into an inquiry against “fraudulent” contractors listed in the Mumbai civic body and “collect” at least Rs 2 crore from about 50 such contractors.

    Parab had then rejected Waze’s claims and had said he was ready to face any probe into the allegations.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Hathras gang rape case: Allahabad HC refuses to stay trial in special court

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has declined to stay the trial in the case of gang rape and murder of a young woman in Hathras being conducted by a special court in the district or move it to elsewhere.

    The Lucknow bench of the high court, however, kept it open for the CBI to seek transfer of the trial if it so wanted.

    A bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Jaspreet Singh passed the order on a PIL which the court had suo motu registered after the incident in September 2020.

    In compliance with the order passed by the high court on March 19, 2021, two reports on behalf of the CRPF and the District Judge of Hathras who is the presiding officer of the special SC/ST court were filed before the bench with regard to the alleged incident of extending threat to the woman’s lawyer in the Hathras court on March 5, 2021, and alleged disturbance caused to the presiding officer in the course of trial.

    Taking the reports on records, the bench said, “Having perused the reports and the statements annexed therewith, without mentioning the details contained therein considering the sensitive nature of the case, suffice it to say, as of now, we do not find any reason to stay the proceedings of the case pending before the Special Court (SC/ST Act), Hathras nor for that matter to transfer the same elsewhere.”

    The bench also noted that the plea of transferring the case elsewhere was made orally by the woman’s counsel on the last date and that there was no written request.

    Considering that CBI lawyer Anurag Singh had apprised the bench that the premier investigation agency was willing to seek transfer of the trial elsewhere but has not done so till date, the bench observed, “This order would be without prejudice to any application for transfer of trial which may be filed by the CBI if it is otherwise maintainable.”

    The order was passed last week and its copy was made available on Sunday.

    The bench had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident, especially the inhuman and indecent cremation of the woman, and started monitoring the case as a whole after an order of the Supreme Court.

  • CBI arrests two in a case of post-poll violence in West Bengal 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI, which is probing post-poll violence cases in West Bengal, arrested two persons on Saturday for an alleged attempt to murder in Nadia district, officials said.

    The two accused — Bijoy Ghosh and Asima Ghosh — were briefly detained before being arrested by the probe agency, they said.

    The CBI has carried out searches at 15 locations in connection with the case related to attempt to murder of Dharma Ghosh who suffered serious injuries after his family was attacked on May 14 night at their home in Nadia district’s Chapra, they said.

    The CBI had booked eight persons in the matter, they said.

    It has registered 10 more FIRs in post-poll violence cases taking the total to 21.

  • In most cases in Bengal post-poll violence, suspects shown as fugitive by police: CBI

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: The CBI has so far received details of 60 cases of post-poll violence in West Bengal from the state administration. 

    In most of the incidents, the accused were shown as fugitives, the central agency said.

    “We received 60 post-poll violence cases from 17 districts. The details of the investigation conducted by the state police are showing that the suspects are at large in most of the cases. We are studying each of the cases thoroughly,” said a CBI officer.

    The officer said the central agency might interrogate the suspects, who were arrested by the state police, in jail.

    ALSO READ | Bengal’s wrong policies hurting farmers, says BJP leader Dilip Ghosh

    A team of CBI sleuths visited the house of Sobharani Mondal, an elderly woman who was murdered by alleged Trinamool Congress supporters at Jagatdal in North 24 Parganas district. They recorded statements of the deceased’s family members.

    The CBI formed four teams, each headed by a joint director, to conduct the probe directed by Calcutta High Court. Altogether, 109 officers have been engaged in the probe. The CBI registered 11 new FIRs and all of them are in south Bengal districts.

    Acting on the report submitted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the high court ordered the CBI to probe into grievous crimes such as murder, rape, and attempt to rape.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, lashed out at the BJP-led central government alleging it was using agencies such as NHRC and CBI to score its political goals. “In its report, the commission said five BJP workers and 16 TMC workers were killed in post-poll violence. BJP is planting its members in the rights body. How many times did you send NHRC to Uttar Pradesh?” she asked.

  • ED summons Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee, wife in money laundering case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, and his wife for questioning in a money laundering case linked to an alleged coal scam in the state, officials said on Saturday.

    Abhishek Banerjee represents the Diamond Harbour seat in Lok Sabha and is also the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

    He has been summoned to appear before the investigating officer of the case here on September 6 while his wife Rujira has been sent a similar summon under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for September 1.

    Few others linked to the case have also been summoned to appear on different dates next month, the officials said.

    The case, filed under criminal sections of the (PMLA), was filed by the ED after studying a November, 2020 FIR of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that alleged a multi-crore coal pilferage scam related to the Eastern Coalfields Ltd mines in the state’s Kunustoria and Kajora areas in and around Asansol.

    Local state operative Anup Majhi alias Lala is alleged to be the prime suspect in the case.

    The ED had earlier claimed that Abhishek Banerjee was a beneficiary of funds obtained from this illegal trade. He has been denying all charges.

  • Dhanbad hit-and-run case: Bring back narco-test reports by air to avoid tampering, says HC

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court has directed the CBI to bring back the narco-test reports of the two arrested persons in the Dhanbad hit-and-run case by air as there are chances of tampering if they were brought by train.

    Hearing the case relating to the hit-and-run in which Additional District and Session Judge Uttam Anand was killed, a division court of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan and Justice SN Prasad passed the direction after the CBI submitted the status report and said that investigations are on and the two accused persons have been sent out of the state by train for narco-tests.

    “The division bench expressed its displeasure on its submission saying that there are possibilities that the samples might get tampered on the way if brought back by train, therefore, they must be brought by air,” said Treasurer of Jharkhand High Court Advocate Association Dheeraj Kumar. The court also said the two arrested persons are important for the case, and hence, they must also be brought back to Jharkhand by air with proper security cover, he added.

    Meanwhile, the Home Secretary, who was also present during the hearing, submitted before the court that the tender process for the expansion of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has already been completed and it will start functioning properly soon enabling the state to conduct all types of tests in Jharkhand itself.

    The court also expressed displeasure last Friday on the submission that blood and urine samples were returned as there is no facility for blood tests and urine tests at the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Ranchi. Calling it unfortunate and shameful, the court had summoned the FSL Director and Home Secretary on Friday seeking a detailed report on the facilities and availability of manpower at Ranchi FSL.

    CCTV footage showing an auto-rickshaw intentionally hitting the judge from behind on a deserted road has raised doubts over his death while he was on his morning walk schedule on July 28. The incident took place near the Golf Ground less than 500 metres from his house at Judge Colony of Hirapur.

    Hours after the CCTV footage surfaced indicating that the incident was ‘intentional’ rather than an ‘accident’, the Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter calling it a direct attack on the judiciary.

  • Central agencies being used to harass political opponents: Shiv Sena hits out at BJP

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Central agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have become branches of Bharatiya Janata Party and ED is more active in the states where the party is not in power, alleged the Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Friday.

    The editorial claimed the Supreme Court has reprimanded the functioning of the Central agencies. “The Court has already declared that ‘CBI is the parrot of the government cage’. Now it has also expressed doubts about the functioning of the ED and Income Tax Department. The Central agencies are being used to harass political opponents,” it said.

    Bringing the Narayan Rane issue, Saamana said the action was taken against a Union Minister in Maharashtra a threat case. “The Court justified this action. Still, there was a demand for a CBI inquiry into the cases. The importance of CBI has started getting destroyed,” it said.

    Quoting Supreme Court, the editorial said, “Cases against sitting and ex MPs, MLAs are pending for 15 to 20 years. Some cases have not even been investigated by the CBI and the ED. There is no charge sheet either. The ED has been freed only by confiscation of the property.”

    The Supreme Court has pointed out that the functioning of Central investigative agencies is not impartial and fair. Many files are prepared and acted upon according to the orders of the political leaders. Some files are only used to pressurise people. Using these files, MLAs and MPs are transferred, the editorial said.

    “To avoid ED’s chase, some leaders in Maharashtra joined BJP and became ministers directly at the Centre. Fils closed as soon as they went to BJP. ED is becoming more active in those states where the Bharatiya Janata Party is not in power. ED and CBI have become the new branches of BJP. A senior ED official of joint director level will soon join BJP. He has handled many important investigations. Now, he will be MLA and minister by contesting Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. What does this political connection of ED say?” Saamana claimed.

    The editorial further alleged that Judges, police personnel and CBI officials join BJP and they are given a great reward for the service done in favour of the party in the past.

  • SC asks Centre to file reply within 2 weeks to PIL seeking CBI probe into ‘iron ore smuggling’

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday asked the Centre to file its counter reply within two weeks to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the lawyer, Manohar Lal Sharma seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR and probe the alleged duty evasion by the companies in allegedly ‘smuggling’ iron ore to China since 2015.

    A bench of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and comprising of Justice Surya Kant asked the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, senior law officer for the Government of India, to file his counter reply in the case.

    “Have you (the SG, Mehta) filed your counter?”, CJI Ramana asked the SG, to which, the SG replied, “No, we have not filed it”.

    The CJI said that “If it (the allegations levelled by the petitioner, Sharma) is true then it is a serious matter, which we need to look into.”

    The SG told the Supreme Court that the reply will be filed in a formal manner and sought two weeks time for the same.

    The CJI allowed the prayer of SG Mehta and fixed the matter for further hearing after three weeks.

    During the course of the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the petitioner Sharma, “you please file a comprehensive writ petition. Make necessary parties and amend your prayer and necessary parties. We can’t allow any application for the impleadment, until we don’t hear from the Government of India”.

    “We cannot proceed without their reply,” CJI Ramana said.

    Justice Surya Kant asked the petitioner-cum-lawyer, Sharma, “you have to show how much tax evasion was there? Please make specific averments and not implead 65 parties.”

    Sharma, in his petition, filed before the Supreme Court, sought its direction that the companies concerned be prosecuted for allegedly evading export duty by declaring wrong tariff code to export the iron ore under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992.

    Sharma alleged that iron ore “smuggling to China” has been taking place as these companies have been exporting without paying 30 per cent export duty.

    He thereby sought a court-monitored and time-bound CBI probe against the companies.

    The PIL filed by Sharma claimed that the ministries of commerce and finance should control and regulate the export policies and decide as to under which Harmonized System Codes each good will be exported.

    The PIL alleged that there is a violation of the Customs Act, Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and certain penal provisions relating to cheating and forgery.