Union Minister Jitendra Singh declines to comment on controversy over CBI director Ranjit Sinha

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday declined to comment on the controversy over the meetings which CBI Director Ranjit Sinha is purported to have had with some of the accused in the 2G and coal-block allocation scams.

"Government will take a view as and when required," he said in reference to the row at a press conference in New Delhi.

Asked whether the government was mulling any intervention in the ongoing controversy, the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, whose ministry has administrative control of CBI, said, "I would not like to get into that question".

A row has erupted after purported copies of the visitors' register maintained at the CBI Director's residence -- 2, Janpath -- were made public, which suggest that multiple meetings took place between Sinha and representatives of private companies facing trial in the 2G and coal-block allocation scams.

Supreme Court on September 8 directed Sinha to file a response in the matter within a week and set the next date of hearing for September 15.