Visitors who met former CBI chief Ranjit Sinha to be grilled

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will examine bank account details of people who visited the official residence of the probe agency's former chief Ranjit Sinha, who is being investigated for his alleged role in scuttling the coal scam.

The Special Investigations Team (SIT) filed a report in the Supreme Court informing the bench led by Justice Madan Lokur about the "substantial progress" that has been made in the investigation. Special Prosecutor RS Cheema apprised the bench — which also comprises Justices Joseph Kurian and AK Sikri — that the scope of the investigation has widened.

"The number plate of the vehicles of the visitors will have to be traced. The probe is on. Bank account details of the visitors will also have to be looked into," Cheema said, adding, "exercise has been done substantially. They (SIT) have asked for six months (to complete the probe)."

However, the apex court was not impressed with the status of the investigation and pulled up the CBI for its slow progress. "You have given us 11 reports of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and 18 reports of CBI. We must say, the progress in the investigation has been slow. Even today, when we see the 18th report of the CBI, it says one case is pending," the bench said chastising the probe agency.

While perusing the status report, the bench observed, "there are certain inferences that could perhaps be drawn". "For example, if a person has met Sinha or there is an indication of some financial transaction, we may infer it to have some implications for the investigation," the bench said.

The bench then posted the matter for March, despite Cheema's request for three-four months time.

In March 2017, former CBI director Sinha suffered a setback when the top court dismissed his petition to recall a January 23 order directing the CBI to probe him for allegedly influencing the coal scam investigations.

"We do not find any reason to recall our order. The application is dismissed," the bench had said.

Last January, the court had ordered the then-newly appointed CBI director Alok Verma to investigate Sinha's involvement. According to an official who spoke to DNA, Sinha's probe comes under the rarest of rare cases. This is because never in the agency's history, that extends over 70 years, has a former CBI director been probed and investigated by the agency itself.

DNA had accessed the visitors' diary of the former CBI chief, which revealed that top officials of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) among others, met CBI director Ranjit Sinha at least 50 times in 15 months at his official residence.

In its May 14, 2015 order, the top court had held that it was "completely inappropriate for Mr Ranjit Sinha (then CBI Director) to have met persons accused in the coal block allocation cases without the investigating officer or the investigating team being present."

Why being probed

• SC says it was “completely inappropriate’ for Ranjit Sinha (then CBI Director) to have met persons accused in the coal block allocation cases without the investigating officer or the investigating team being present.