The CBI’s so-called ‘rebuttal’ to The Quint’s exclusive story ‘Did CBI Chief Anil Sinha Play a Role in AgustaWestland?‘ (7 June 2016) may have been counterproductive. The investigating agency has said that Anil Sinha, the then Inspector General of SPG and presently Director of CBI, attended one preliminary meeting relating to VVIP helicopters on 8 November 2004 as representative of the then Director, SPG.
For starters, the CBI’s rejoinder in fact confirms The Quint’s story that Anil Sinha was present at the said meeting.
The rebuttal is also curiously silent on certain other questions we raised.
1. Will Sinha will be questioned by sleuths from the CBI and ED since he was part of the crucial meeting?
2. Shouldn’t Sinha recuse himself from the AgustaWestland scam investigation in order to allow fair probe?
The following is the full text of the CBI’s reply:
Please refer to the news item “Exclusive: Did CBI Chief Anil Sinha Play a Role in AgustaWestland?” published on 07.06.2016 in your website. The contents of the news-item are totally speculative, baseless and misleading. Such news item is intended to malign the image of Central Bureau of Investigation and Shri Anil Sinha, Director, CBI.Devpreet Singh, Spokesperson, CBI
It is clarified that Shri Anil Sinha, the then IG, SPG (presently Director, CBI) attended only one preliminary meeting relating to VVIP helicopters on 8th November, 2004 as representative of the then Director, SPG. No decision relevant in any manner to the allegations under investigation by CBI was taken in this meeting. Shri Anil Sinha left the SPG on 30 November, 2004 after completing his tenure and he was not privy to any subsequent meeting / discussions on the subject.
It is further informed that no communication regarding investigation of said case has been received from PMO. Investigation is being conducted in a free and fair manner and there is no question of any pressure from any quarter. All relevant persons are being duly examined and the need for any arrest will be considered as per the requirements of the investigation.
It is also clarified that CBI and ED are regularly sharing information with each other. We urge the concerned Reporter to name the senior official of ED, whose quote has been published by her so that necessary clarification/further process can be initiated.
On the CBI’s demand that we reveal our sources, The Quint reserves the right to not disclose the name or names of any officer or source who might be familiar with the details of the investigation. It is standard procedure among journalists to maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and safeguard the identity of sources.
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