Ranjit Sinha clarifies on meetings with tainted

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Ranjit Sinha, who is facing heat for allegedly meeting the accused in the 2G and coal scams at his official residence, filed his affidavit responding to the charges against him in a sealed envelope before the Supreme Court.

Sources said, while Sinha has accepted meeting the people mentioned in the visitor’s list in a public domain, he has refuted allegations made against him of derailing investigations. At the same time, the CBI has questioned the authenticity of the register. The CBI wants lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who has leveled charges against Sinha based on the register, to reveal his source. The CBI has given assurance that the whistleblower will be given immunity.

The affidavit has been filed in compliance of the order of the apex court which had, on September 8, directed Sinha to respond to the allegations made against him. The matter will be taken up for further hearing on September 15.

During the last hearing, the bench had taken serious objection to Sinha’s reluctance to file an affidavit on merits of the allegations. They had directed him to file his response on a plea for a direction to the Centre to take steps for his removal and for ordering an SIT probe against him for allegedly abusing his authority.