Central Bureau of Investigation to take ministry of home affairs' directive on probing ministers

NEW DELHI: The CBI has directed its officers that any complaint received against a union minister should be “promptly” forwarded to the home ministry, a move that may bring government interference in the working of the premier probe agency.

“Whenever any complaint against any union minister is received in any branch/office of CBI, the same shall be forwarded to ministry of home affairs through policy division promptly for further necessary action,” CBI joint director Javeed Ahmad said in a circular issued on Tuesday.

Interestingly, CBI's Crime Manual of 2005 has no such mention of the need to bring the home ministry into the picture regarding starting probes into complaints received against union ministers.

According to the crime manual, “If any complaint against a minister or former minister of the union government, or the union territory is received in any branch, it should be put up to the director, CBI, for appropriate orders. The relevant file of the branch should remain in the personal custody of Superintendent of Police concerned.”

A senior CBI officer said on the condition of anonymity that the agency has been “informing” the home ministry of any complaints received against union ministers.

However, Tuesday’s circular puts the ball in the home ministry's court to specify “further necessary action” in the matter, which may imply government control over the future probe and also prior information with the government of corruption allegations against a member of the Union Cabinet.

CBI had earlier complained that asking for prior government permission compromises the secrecy of its probes.

The new directive comes within a week of the Supreme Court scrapping Section 6 A of the Delhi Police Special Establishment Act (DSPE), under which CBI had to take prior permission of the government to start probe or lodge an FIR against a joint secretary and above level officer.