Can Chidambaram's CBI in all fairness probe him?

Country’s premier investigation agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is caught in a catch-22 situation.

The CBI is dominated by the officers of Indian Police Services, whose cadre control comes with the ministry of home affair. And if, the apex court directs them to investigate role of the union home minister, P Chidambaram, will they be able to do their job fearlessly. Or will it be a conflict of interest?

The CBI has about 70 IPS officers from various state and union territories cadres. Starting with the director, agency has 14 joint directors, 26 deputy inspector generals and 27 superintendents of police.

Though CBI has officers have till now taken action against cabinet ministers and top politicians, if allowed, would be interrogating the union home minister for the first time in its history.

Prashant Bhushan in its petition before the Supreme Court has said most of the top officers in the CBI were IPS officers for whom the home ministry was the cadre-controlling authority. “That is why Mr Chidambaram has not even been questioned so far as once these IPS officers move out of the CBI their confidential reports will be under the home ministry’s control.” Considering Bhushan’s stand, the court has asked the CBI to provide list of IPS officers in CBI.

“Yes, he (officer) might face some problem in his future. But it depends upon the character of an officer, who investigates charges against the union home minister,” Prakash Singh former Uttar Pradesh director general told DNA.

“No matter, its pleasant or unpleasant, but an officer has to take action against ‘his’ minister. In that, the officer, might not get plump posting in future, because MHA controls the IPS cadre management,” Ajayraj Sharma, former director general of BSF told DNA.

But some believe that CBI has handled several high-profile cases in the past.

“CBI has investigated scams like Bofors. Grilling union home minister is certainly not an easy task for the investigating officer, but I am sure, for him, he will be just a suspect or an accused,” said former CBI Director Joginder Singh.

While asking about the pressure on officer, Singh added, “I am pretty confidant that the government will not allow CBI to do anything against him (Chidambaram). During my tenure as the CBI chief, I had taken some important decisions against top politicians. Yes, we are always under pressure , whenever we go against any politicians. But if the highest court of CBI does not come directly under the home ministry. Department of Personals Training(DoPT) controls CBI, which directly under the Prime minister’s office.”

Kiran Bedi maintained that because of this situation, CBI requires Independent entity.

“CBI is not an independent body, as it gets direction from Central Vigilance Commission and its administrative control is with ministry of personal and training. In that case, we can not accept CBI to function fearlessly.”