The CBI was an agency constituted under the Delhi Special Police (Establishment) Act, 1946 as an investigative arm of the central government. Its primary job was to investigate cases of corruption against officials of the central government and other state instrumentalities. By controlling the process of appointment, transfers and holding out temptations for the future, the government has frustrated all attempts to make the CBI independent and autonomous. Following the anti-corruption movement, where the demand for creation of the Lokpal was raised, along with two of my colleagues, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Bhupendra Yadav, I had submitted a note to the Select Committee of the Rajya Sabha on the issue of autonomy and independence to the CBI. In the note, we had stated as under:
“On the basis of above we are of the categorical opinion that considering the enormous amount of misuse of political clout the CBI has lost its credibility. The control of CBI thus requires to be transferred from Deptt of Personnel, GOI to the Lokpal in relation to all corruption cases which are referred to Lokpal. Alternatively, in order to maintain independence of CBI and enable it to get immunity from political interference, we make the following suggestions amongst others: