Ranjit Sinha retires as CBI chief

NEW DELHI: Ranjit Sinha, who had a tumultuous tenure of two years at the helm of affairs in CBI, retired today in the glare of a recent controversy with Supreme Court directing him to recuse from 2G scam probe a fortnight ago.

He was accorded a farewell here at a function where he told his officers and men that all his decisions were taken in the interest of the probe agency.

"Nobody wants to leave the organisation on such a controversial note," he remarked.

Quoting South African leader Nelson Mandela, he said, "Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again."

While talking to his men, Sinha, a 1974 batch officer of Bihar cadre, said, "... But time will tell that I took decisions in the interest of the organisation."

During the function held at the CBI headquarters, he thanked the officers who spoke about his tenure in the agency and also termed him as 'dabang' (daring) leader who never interfered in the work of his juniors.

As his turn to speak came, an emotionally charged Sinha said, "I had forgotten that I have done some work also. In fact I have only seen my criticism in last few weeks in media that I forgot that I have done other work as well in 40 years of my career."