If the prosecution wing of the CBI is brought under the supervision of the Lokpal, all CBI chargesheets will have to be vetted by the Lokpal and the proposed anti-corruption watchdog will also have a major say in giving legal opinion to the CBI on crucial issues.
However, sources made it clear that Lokpal will have no role or interference in investigative powers of the CBI or even its administrative functioning. “So the Lokpal cannot decide which officer will get what posting and investigate which case or seek explanation from an officer for ongoing investigations,” the official added.
Both Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar and CBI director A.P. Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Parliament House office ahead of the crucial all-party meeting. Sources privy to the deliberations said the CVC was not happy with the parliamentary panel’s report which reduces its role to a very large extent and instead gives similar authority to the Lokpal.
The CVC, sources added, told the PM that there would be “considerable overlapping and confusion” in the working of the commission and the Lokpal as both would end up doing similar work. “The CVC wants a clear demarcation of work between the Lokpal and the commission, particularly related to complaints of Group A, B and C employees,” an official remarked.
Meanwhile, the CBI chief raised the same issue with the PM that he had mentioned in his letter to the department of personnel and training relating to making preliminary inquiry by the Lokpal mandatory before handing over cases to the CBI.
Mr Singh later said the agency was opposed to any dilution or division of its current work profile while insisting that the CBI’s autonomy in no way should be compromised.
Sources said though the PM gave the two important functionaries a patient hearing he will go by the broader political consensus on the vexed issue.