News Analysis India

Tag: CBI

  • Will handover Anil Deshmukh case documents to CBI, Maharashtra govt assures HC

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra government on Thursday communicated to the Bombay High Court that it will hand over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) all the relevant documents of the former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh related FIR, including IPS officer Rashmi Shukla’s report with annexures by August 31.

    The statement was made before the Bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice NJ Jamadar while hearing an application by the CBI seeking documents which included documents pertaining to transfer and posting of police officers during the time Deshmukh served as Home Minister.

    The Court will hear the matter next on September 2.

    Meanwhile, an inquiry commission headed by retired Bombay High Court judge, Justice KU Chandiwal had imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh for not appearing before it on Wednesday.

    It was the third time former Mumbai police commissioner has not appeared before the inquiry commission. The committee will convene for the next hearing on August 30.

    CBI had approached Bombay High Court after police refused to hand over the documents to CBI citing a pending appeal in SC on this matter. Later Supreme court had also rejected the state govt’s SLP against HC order dismissing the State’s petition seeking revival of certain paragraphs in CBI FIR against Anil Deshmukh and others which indicated about transfer posting scam.

    Earlier, former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh’s layer Advocate Anita Shekhar Castellino has requested the commission to issue a warrant against Singh for not appearing.The Justice Chandiwal committee was constituted by the Maharashtra government to look into the allegations of corruption levelled by Param Bir Singh against the state’s ex-home minister Anil Deshmukh.

    On August 13, a lookout notice was issued against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in an alleged extortion case.

    On July 23, a case of alleged extortion was registered against Param Bir Singh at Kopari Police Station in Thane city Police Commissionerate. This was then the second case of extortion in which Parambir Singh has been named.

    On July 28, Mumbai Police formed a seven-member Special Investigation Team headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police-level officer to probe the corruption charges against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner and five others named in the case.

    Param Bir Singh, in his letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, had earlier alleged that Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crores every month.

    Waze was arrested in March in connection with the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) probe into the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai and the subsequent murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.

    The case against the former Home Minister was registered on May 11. Earlier in April, the CBI had conducted raids at four premises of Deshmukh after registering an FIR against him in connection with the case.

    An FIR was filed based on Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120 B). During the searches, the CBI recovered incriminating documents and digital devices, sources had confirmed. 

  • CBI registers nine cases related to post-poll violence in West Bengal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered nine cases related to post-poll violence in West Bengal, sources said on Thursday.

    All the four special units of the investigating agency tasked to probe the cases of violence have moved their units from Kolkata to crime scenes across the state, they said.

    More cases are under the process of registration with some of them being handed over by the state government, sources said.

    A five-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court has entrusted the CBI with the investigation into alleged rapes and murders after the assembly polls in West Bengal earlier this year.

  • Supreme Court questions delay by agencies in cases against legislators

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the slow pace of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said the agencies have not indicated the reasons behind the delay.

    A bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant said, “We are sorry to say that the report is inconclusive and there is no reason for not filing charge-sheet for 10-15 years.”

    The observation came while referring to reports filed by ED and CBI. As per these reports, 51 MPs, 71 MLAs/MLCs are facing cases under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and 121 CBI cases against sitting legislators are pending.

    Of the 121 cases pending trial against MPs/MLAs before CBI courts across the country, 58 are punishable with life imprisonment. In 45 cases, charges have not been framed, though the offences are alleged to have been committed several years back. A total of 37 CBI cases against legislators are in the stage of investigation for many years. One of these cases, according to CBI, was expected to be completed by 2030.

    “We don’t want to demoralise the agencies. They are over-burdened like judges. So we are exercising restraint. But the report speaks volumes,” CJI Ramana observed. He also said that in several PMLA cases, the ED has done nothing except for attaching properties. This, without filing charge-sheets, will not serve any purpose, CJI Ramana added.

    Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said in many ED cases, response from foreign countries are required. However, Letters Rogatories sent for information from foreign countries are responded late. This causes delay in investigation. He, however, clarified that he was not justifying the delay. He suggested that the court may set an outer limit for trials to end.

    “It is easy for us to say expedite trial and all, but where are the judges?” the CJI asked, adding that, “Manpower is a real issue. Just like us, investigating agencies are also suffering with this issue. Everyone wants a CBI investigation you see.”

  • CBI files chargesheet against former Syndicate Bank AGM, others in Rs 209 crore cheating case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has filed a charge sheet against businessman Anoop Bartaria and former Syndicate Bank AGM Adarsh Manchanda along with 16 others for allegedly cheating the bank to the tune of Rs 209 crore, officials said.

    In its charge sheet submitted in the Special Court in Jaipur, the probe agency has also charged Chartered Accountant (CA) Bharat Bomb in the matter, they said.

    “It was alleged in the complaint that 118 loan accounts were sanctioned and disbursed by three branches of Syndicate Bank, namely, M I Road branch, Jaipur, Malviya Nagar branch, Jaipur, and Udaipur branch.

    The 118 loan accounts were housing loan accounts, term loan accounts for purchase of commercial property of World Trade Park (WTP), OD limits and Foreign Letter of Credits,” CBI spokesperson R C Joshi said.

    It was further alleged that Bomb had hatched a conspiracy with his employees and others, including the branch officials of Syndicate Bank, and got various credit facilities sanctioned.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also said that the accused cheated the bank to the tune of Rs 209.93 crore by availing loans on the basis of forged and fabricated documents, bills, quotations, certificates, among others.

    It was also alleged that several of the borrowers were found to be ordinary employees in firms owned by the CA and others and not eligible for such high value loans, Joshi said.

    The CBI, during its probe found that as part of the conspiracy, Bomb, Bartaria and others allegedly approached officials of Syndicate Bank M I Road Branch for getting term loans for purchasing commercial properties situated at World Trade Park Ltd, Jaipur on the basis of forged Income Tax returns showing inflated income.

    They also submitted forged quotations, invoices, purchase orders and work orders; forged CA certificates and audited financial statements, the CBI spokesperson said.

    “It was also alleged that the then manager (Mahesh Gupta) Syndicate Bank, M I Road Branch recommended and the then AGM/Branch Head (Manchanda), Syndicate Bank, M I Road branch had sanctioned various credit facilities by violating the bank guidelines and without exercising due diligence,” he said.

    The said bank officials allegedly sanctioned term loans for purchase of commercial properties, FLCs, housing loans, OD limits and Working Capital Term Loans to various individuals, firms and companies linked to the said accused, he added.

  • CBI to conduct zone-wise investigation of post-poll violence cases in West Bengal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI will carry out zone-wise investigation of post-poll violence cases in West Bengal, with each zone being looking into by a joint director-rank officer to ensure an exhaustive probe into alleged heinous crimes, officials said on Tuesday.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has deputed four teams in the state, which has been divided into four zones to carry out investigations into the alleged rape and murder cases reported in the aftermath of the assembly election results announced on May 2, they said.

    The central agency has dispatched an unprecedented force headed by four joint directors, and comprising as many DIGs and 16 superintendents of police and investigators drawn from across the country who will be stationed in the four zones, the officials said.

    The teams have already started the ground work in their areas as the CBI has sought from the DGP of West Bengal the details of all alleged rape and murder cases reported after the elections, they said.

    Following a report from an NHRC committee on July 13, a five-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI probe into the allegations.

    Passing a unanimous judgement on a batch of PILs seeking an independent probe into the incidents of alleged violence after the polls which the ruling TMC won by an overwhelming majority, the bench also ordered the constitution of an SIT of state police officers to probe all other cases.

    The SIT will include Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar, all IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre.

    The bench will monitor the investigations by both the CBI and the SIT, and asked the two agencies to submit status reports to the court within six weeks It said there are allegations of complainants being threatened to withdraw cases and a number of cases of murder being claimed as natural deaths without recording FIRs and conducting investigations.

    Noting that the West Bengal Police did not properly respond to allegations of inaction and tried to downplay them, the bench said, “It certainly needs investigation by an independent agency.”

    It said three months have lapsed since the matter was taken up by the court, but “no concrete action has been taken by the state which could inspire confidence, except filing affidavits and placing on record thousands of papers”.

  • Will resolve row on sharing docs with CBI over its probe against Anil Deshmukh: Maha govt to HC

    The CBI had on April 21 this year lodged an FIR against Anil Deshmukh on charges of corruption and misuse of official position.

  • No party can abdicate its constitutional responsibility: Citizens’ group on Calcutta HC order

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A group of citizens, including retired judges, civil servants and veterans, said on Saturday that the Calcutta High Court’s order for a CBI probe into the serious cases of post-poll violence in West Bengal highlights that criminalisation and lumpenisation of the political system cannot be tolerated.

    The judgment has made it clear that no political party can abdicate its responsibility in discharge of constitutional responsibility, the Call for Justice said in a statement.

    The group in a fact-finding report had flagged the alleged cases of post-poll violence after the Trinamool Congress (TMC) retained power in the state with a big win over the BJP and had submitted it to the Union Home Ministry, seeking SIT probe.

    The BJP has blamed the TMC’s cadres for the violence, a charge denied by it.

    The statement said, “Democracy is a proven political system that has stood the test of time and periodical conduct of free and fair elections reflect the maturity of participatory processes. Retributive violence, targeted intimidation, retaliation, coercion, mob frenzy defeats the basic purpose of informed participation and thereby violate the sanctity of elections.”

    It added, “The judgement clearly highlights that the criminalization and lumpenisation of political system is no longer to be tolerated and no political party can abdicate its responsibility in discharge of constitutional responsibility.”

    The essence of the high court judgment is an eye opener for all the political parties that no one is above the law and logic of justice must be adhered by all those who believe in norms of democracy and follow non-negotiable principles as enshrined in the Constitution, it said.

    Justice Permod Kohli (retired), former chief justice of the Sikkim High Court who headed the fact-finding committee, and former IAS officer Madan Gopal, the member secretary of the committee, were among those who issued the statement.

    The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered a CBI probe into grievous cases such as murder and rape in the post-poll violence in West Bengal.

    A five-judge bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal also ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all other offences related to the alleged post-poll violence.

  • Post poll violence in West Bengal: PIL petitioner files caveat in SC

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: One of the PIL petitioners, on whose plea the Calcutta High Court ordered CBI probe into all heinous cases during the post poll violence in West Bengal, Friday filed a caveat in the Supreme Court urging that no order be passed without hearing him if the state or other litigant move appeals against the verdict.

    A five-judge bench of the High Court, headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, on Thursday ordered a CBI investigation in all alleged cases of heinous crimes like rape and murder, while accepting the recommendations of an NHRC panel, in West Bengal after the assembly poll results this year in which the ruling Trinamool Congress Party came back to power.

    The unanimous verdict came on a batch of petitions including the one PIL filed by lawyer Anindya Sundar Das raising the issue of violence taking place in various parts of the state after the state assembly elections.

    Das, in anticipation of the fact that the aggrieved parties, including the state government, may file appeals against the verdict, filed the caveat in the top court to ensure that he is heard before any order is passed on the pleas to be filed in the apex court.

    The high court bench, which also comprised justices I P Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Subrata Talukdar, has observed that there were “definite and proved” allegations that complaints of the victims of violence in the aftermath of the West Bengal assembly polls were not even registered.

    Ordering setting up of an SIT to probe all other cases, it has said that it will include Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar, all IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre.

    “All the cases where, as per the report of the Committee, the allegations are about murder of a person and crime against women regarding rape/attempt to rape, shall be referred to CBI for investigation,” it said.

    The high court has also directed the NHRC committee, constituted by its chairman on a direction by the five-judge bench, and any other commission or authority and the state to immediately hand over the records of the cases to the CBI to carry forward the probe.

    The bench said it will monitor the investigations by both the CBI and the SIT and asked the two agencies to submit status reports to the court within six weeks.

    It has said that the working of the SIT will be overseen by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court for which a separate order will be passed after obtaining his/her consent.

    In its ruling, the bench has said heinous crimes such as murder and rape “deserve to be investigated by an independent agency which in the circumstances can only be Central Bureau of Investigation.”

    The bench has said the State failed to register FIRs even in some cases of alleged murder.

    “This shows pre-determined mind to take investigation into a particular direction.”

    “Under such circumstances investigation by independent agency will inspire confidence to all concerned,” it has noted.

    It said allegations that the police had not registered a number of cases initially and that some were registered only after the court had intervened or the committee was constituted were found to be true.

    It observed that the facts in relation to the allegations made in the PILs are “even more glaring” as the incidents are not isolated to one place in the state.

    The NHRC committee had on July 13 submitted its final report to the court.

    An interim report of the NHRC committee had mentioned that Atif Rasheed, a member of the committee, was obstructed from discharging his duty and he and his team members were attacked by some undesirable elements on June 29 in Jadavpur area on the southern fringe of the city, the court noted.

    The PILs had alleged that people were subjected to assault, made to flee homes and properties were destroyed during the violence in the wake of the assembly elections, sought impartial probe into all such cases, and demanded protection of life and liberty.

  • CBI seeks from Bengal DGP details of cases reported during post-poll violence

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has written to the West Bengal director general of police to provide details of all cases of murder, attempt to murder and rape reported during post-poll violence in the state, officials said on Friday.

    The agency sought the details of such cases from the director general of police in line with a Calcutta High Court order that directed the CBI to take over cases related to murder, rape and atrocities against women during the violence.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has set up four teams, each headed by joint directors Ramnish, Anurag, Vineet Vinayak and Sampat Meena, to probe the political violence which ensued after the victory of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on May 2 in a bitterly fought eight-phase assembly poll in West Bengal.

    Each team will have about seven members, including a deputy inspector general and about four superintendents of police, called from across the country, the officials said.

    The overall probe will be supervised by Additional Director Ajay Bhatnagar.

    The Calcutta High Court on Thursday had ordered a CBI inquiry into alleged killings, rape and crimes against women during post-poll violence in West Bengal.

    A five-judge bench, passing a unanimous judgment on a batch of PILs seeking an independent probe into incidents of alleged violence after the polls which the ruling TMC won by an overwhelming majority, also ordered constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe all other cases.

    The SIT will include Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar, all IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre.

    The bench will monitor the investigations by both the CBI and the SIT, and it has asked them to submit status reports to the court within six weeks.

    It said that the working of the SIT will be overseen by a retired judge of the Supreme Court for which a separate order will be passed after obtaining his/her consent.

    In its ruling, the bench said heinous crimes such as murder and rape “deserve to be investigated by an independent agency which in the circumstances can only be Central Bureau of Investigation.”

    The bench said the state failed to register FIRs even in some cases of alleged murder.

    “Rather the violence which erupted after polls and declaration of results was state-wide. Number of persons had died. The women were raped. The house of certain persons who had not supported the party in power were demolished. Their other properties were damaged. Their belongings were looted including the chattels,” the court observed in its order.

    The bench said there are allegations that the complainants are being threatened to withdraw the cases and a number of cases of murder being claimed as natural death without recording FIRs and conducting investigation according to the procedure established by law.

    Noting that the West Bengal Police has not properly responded to allegations of inaction and tried to downplay them, the bench said, “It certainly needs investigation by an independent agency.”

    It said three months have lapsed since the matter was taken up by the court, but “no concrete action has been taken by the State, which could inspire confidence except filing affidavits and placing on record thousands of papers.”

    The bench ordered the West Bengal government to pay compensation to the victims of crimes in accordance with the policy of the State, after due verification.

    The compensation amount will be directly transferred to their bank accounts.

    The National Human Rights Commission committee had on July 13 submitted its final report to the court.

  • CBI forms four teams to probe cases related to post-poll violence in Bengal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has formed four teams headed by a joint director each to investigate cases of rape, murder and crime against women during post-poll violence in West Bengal, officials said on Thursday.

    The overall probe will be monitored by an officer of the additional director rank, sources said.

    Each team will have seven members, including a deputy inspector general and three superintendents of police from across the country, they added.

    The move by the central agency comes hours after the Calcutta High Court ordered a CBI inquiry into alleged killings, rape and crime against women during post-poll violence in West Bengal.

    A five-judge bench, while pronouncing a unanimous verdict on a batch of PILs seeking an independent probe into the incidents of alleged violence after the state Assembly polls held earlier this year, also ordered the formation of an SIT to investigate all other cases.

    The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) won the West Bengal Assembly polls by an overwhelming majority, The SIT will include Suman Bala Sahoo, Soumen Mitra and Ranveer Kumar, all IPS officers of the West Bengal cadre.

    The bench will monitor the investigations by both the CBI and the SIT.

    The court has asked the two agencies to submit status reports to it within six weeks.

    It said the working of the SIT will be overseen by a retired Supreme Court judge, for which a separate order will be passed after obtaining his or her consent.

    The bench said heinous crimes such as murder and rape “deserve to be investigated by an independent agency, which in the circumstances can only be the Central Bureau of Investigation”.

    It said the State failed to register FIRs even in some cases of alleged murder.

    “Rather the violence which erupted after the polls and the declaration of results was statewide. A number of persons died. Women were raped. The houses of certain persons who had not supported the party in power were demolished. Their other properties were damaged. Their belongings were looted, including the chattels,” the court observed.

    It said there are allegations that the complainants are being threatened to withdraw the cases and a number of cases of murder are being claimed as natural deaths without recording FIRs and conducting an investigation according to the procedure established by law.

    Noting that the West Bengal police has not properly responded to allegations of inaction and tried to downplay those, the bench said, “It certainly needs investigation by an independent agency.”

    It said three months have lapsed since the matter was taken up by the court, but “no concrete action has been taken by the State, which could inspire confidence, except filing affidavits and placing on record thousands of papers”.

    The bench ordered the West Bengal government to pay compensation to the victims in accordance with the policy of the state after due verification.

    The compensation amount will be directly transferred to their bank accounts.

    A committee of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had submitted its final report in the matter to the court on July 13.