Centre can’t sack Ranjit Sinha, says Union finance minister Arun Jaitley

Speaking at a function here, Mr Jaitley said: “I have been looking at the law that applies, whether it’s a gap in the law or otherwise. One has to seriously examine who has the power to do that. Because now the new appointing authority is a collegium... I think governments have to be extremely careful when they make appointments for this purpose.”

Recalling the events leading to appointment of Sinha in 2012, Jaitley said the CBI Director was appointed by the previous UPA government just a day before a Parliament select committee report on Lok Pal Bill that provided for the procedure of such appointment was to be tabled in Rajya Sabha. Congress on Friday also suggested that CBI Director should quit following the SC’s directive. Party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil said “questions have been raised on him (Sinha) earlier also”.

Hectic meetings were also held in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday fuelling speculation that the government may give additional charge to Mr. Anil Sinha. Secretary DoPT, Mr. Sanjay Kothari, who is holding full charge in the absence of the Minister of state in the PMO, Mr. Jitendra Singh-who is away camapigning in J&K, also met the home minister later on Friday evening. The DoPT enjoys administrative control over the CBI.

Later in the day on Friday, Mr. Jaitely also called a meeting of chiefs of economic investigating agencies. Meeting was attended by the CBI Director also. The meeting lasted for nearly an hour during which issues related to economic crimes, collection of intelligence and procedural hurdles in brining back black money were discussed, sources said.

It, however, sparked speculation of a message being delivered by the Government for Sinha to proceed on leave but there was no official confirmation. Soon after the meeting a defiant CBI Director Ranjit Sinha, who is set to retire on December 2, told this newspaper: “I will not make any comment at all. In fact I have nothing to say about the developments at all.

People are free to speculate and write whatever they want”. He further refused to answer any queries including speculation about government sending him on forced leave.

Due to retire on December 2, Mr. Ranjit Sinha on Thursday suffered a major blow when the apex court removed him from the 2G probe, saying the allegations against him of protecting some accused appear to be “prima facie credible”. Additional Director R K Dutta will now head the CBI probe in the 2G spectrum scam.

Highly placed government sources said the Narendra Modi government is also moving to amend and the law governing the functioning of CBI to ensure that there is no requirement of “quorum” in the selection panel for choosing the next CBI chief. The Law Ministry has finalised a proposal of the DoPT to amend the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act to insert a clause for the purpose. When asked about the LoP issue on the CBI chief selection process, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said,” The LoP issue would be resolved soon”.