CBI interrogates Kesri; Congress deplores move

Congress President Sitaram Kesri was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation for two hours on Sunday in connection with a case relating to the alleged amassing of wealth by Kesri disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The CBI filed an interim report in the matter in the Delhi high court on Monday.

The details sought from Kesri were based on an exhaustive questionnaire, reportedly approved by CBI Director Joginder Singh.

The interrogation took place at the residence of the Congress president in New Delhi.

Though the details of the interrogation were not divulged by the CBI, the second interim report submitted by it to the high court prompted the division bench consisting of Chief Justice M J Rao and Justice Manmohan Sarin to observe orally that some progress had been made in the case.

The judges expressed the hope that the CBI would submit its final status report on a complain filed by Madhuresh, a journalist from Bihar, by February 10, the next date of hearing.

The complainant has alleged in his petition that Kesri, who is also parliamentary party leader of the Congress, had amassed huge wealth through illegal means and bribed some members of the legislative assembly to vote for him in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, the Congress on Monday deplored the CBI interrogation of Kesri, reportedly at the instance of the prime minister's office (PMO).

Congress spokesman V N Gadgil said the investigation was politically motivated as the PMO saw a threat to the United Front in the strengthening of the Congress party.

Gadgil admitted that CBI officials met Kesri.

Asked whether the Congress would withdraw its support to the United Front government, Gadgil said, "We don't act on impulse. We are a seasoned and matured party."

"During the last two weeks, Kesri has started the process of uniting, strengthening, revitalising, and rejuvenating the Congress party. It may be that the PMO sees a threat in this to the United Front government. Therefore, clearly the investigation is politically motivated," Gadgil said.

"If what has appeared in newspapers about the role of the PMO is correct, then to say the least it is deplorable," he said.

"We are not worried because our slate is clean, conscience is clear and his (Kesri's) life is an open book," Gadgil said.

Kesri had filed a statement of his assets with the Congress Working Committee long back, he added.

Asked whether the contents of the newspapers report on this subject would be verified, Gadgil hoped that the PMO would clarify.

Asked whether he would also deplore the CBI investigations into other politicians, Gadgil said, "About the others, I can't say now,"

Earlier replying to a question, Gadgil said there was no question of the Congress joining the United Front government. "This was made clear in the CWC resolution on this subject," he added.

In the Delhi high court, the bench expressed the hope that the Central Bureau of Investigation would submit its final status report on February 10. A division bench consisting of Chief Justice M J Rao and Justice Manmohan Sarin on Monday perused the second interim report of the investigative agency and observed orally that some progress had been made. According to the report, while certain allegations were being examined, certain others had been found to be false.

Adjourning the hearing in a public interest petition filed by Madhuresh, the bench hoped that the CBI would not ask for further time to complete and submit its final status report by then.

Both counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, and counsel R N Mittal, representing Kesri, urged the court to direct the CBI to wind up investigation speedily.

A CBI official present in the court sought one month's time to submit the next report.

Pressing for an early hearing of the matter, preferably before the February 6 assembly elections in Punjab, Mittal submitted that the pendency of the case was adversely affecting Kesri and his party.

Mittal also pressed for early hearing on the question of maintainability of Madhuresh's petition.

However, the bench said that due to preoccupation with urgent administrative work, it would not be able to take up the case in the next few days, and posted the hearing for February 10.

Bhushan also contended that the present government seemed to be using the CBI investigation as a "dangling sword" over Kesri's head with the intention of "blackmailing" him.

Stating that the petitioner had not come to the court at anyone's behest, Bhushan said that their only interest was in ensuring a fair and free probe into the allegations.

After going through the report, the bench also observed that the CBI had mentioned the angle of the bank accounts of certain MLAs who had allegedly been bribed by Kesri to secure his Rajya Sabha nomination for the last two times.

UNI