Should the CBI be autonomous in view of the fact that several clearances have to be taken before launching a probe?
I will go by the laid-down policy. Our files that deal with investigations go only to the Law Ministry. Which makes it autonomous in any case. We do not take orders from others.
Not even thae Personal Ministry
They just guide us as far as policy matters go. And we have the option of declining if it does not meet our requirements.
Are political investigations motivated?
That is not true. Nobody has ever asked me to do this or that. I suppose it also depends upon the individual. Even if I am asked to favour someone or let somebody off the hook, I will decline to do so.
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What about the conviction rate on the CBI ? On political cases particulary, there has been no case that has reached a logical conclusion
On the contrary, our conviction rate is pretty high. If cases that you are referring to involve foreign investigations, there is little that we can do. Our jurisdiction does not run there. What may be regarded as a crime in this country could be a perfectly legitimate activity in some other country. The only option is to send letters rogatory, which we keep doing.
Has the CBI become a government within a government ? Is the CBI director among the most powerful officials in the county?
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Not true. We are just doing things according to what our charter dictates. And as for my acquiring a high profile, I am only 25th on the Government of Indias list of protocol.