SC to decide supervisory agency over CBI in 2G row

The Supreme Court said it would examine whether vigilance commissioners R Sri Kumar and J M Garg could be entrusted with the job of supervising the Central Bureau of Investigation probe in the 2G Spectrum scam.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly at the fag end of the day's proceeding said it would also consider the suggestion of Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) counsel Prashant Bhushan that a retired officer of "unimpeachable integrity" should be appointed to assist the CVC in the supervision.

The bench also asked Bhushan to give a list of possible names.

The apex court's decision comes in the backdrop of Wednesday's decision by the Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas' offer to recuse himself from the matter in view of the question raised by the Bench on his moral authority to supervise the country's biggest scam.

Thomas was the Telecom Secretary at the time when the controversial licenses were issued for the 2G Spectrum. Earlier, senior counsel K K Venugopal appearing for CBI informed the court that while the entire investigations would be completed within six months, the second status report will be filed in six weeks.

He said besides questioning various people in the country the agency has also sent Letters Rogatory to various foreign countries to track the trail of the money if any stashed in foreign soil.

"When we would file the next report, it would have the names and details of the persons against whom we are examining. It would give the court a fair idea that where the investigation is heading," he said.

On this, the bench said that it would go through the earlier status report filed by CBI on Monday and give direction to the probe agency if required. "We would go through the sealed investigation report and we would give directions (to CBI) if required," the bench said.

On November 29, CBI had submitted status report before the apex court as per its direction, which was opened and read by the bench in open court and was then immediately re-sealed.

The CBI has faced the heat for slow progress of investigation in alleged Rs 1,76,000 crore 2G Spectrum scam. On November 25, the court had castigated CBI on why it had not questioned Raja and the telecom secretary in the case, saying the agency was "beating around the bush" when "illegality is prima facie evident".

The bench had lambasted CBI for failing to examine the former minister and the telecom secretary, saying that it was the "minimum expected" of it as the criticism had come from CAG, a Constitutional authority.