The government is planning a slew of measures to keep the CBI insulated from external pressure in the wake of the severe indictment of the agency’s functioning by the Supreme Court. CBI chief Ranjit Sinha on Friday held a crucial meeting with minister for personnel N. Naray-anasamy and discussed various measures to enhance the CBI’s functional autonomy.
The meeting comes a day after the government constituted a GoM headed by finance minister P. Chidambaram and comprising communications minister Kapil Sibal and Mr Narayanasamy to discuss the issue of the CBI’s autonomy.
The government, sources said, is racing against time as the CBI director has to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court by July 10 spelling out the measures initiated to increase the agency’s autonomy. Therefore, the government is exploring the ordinance route to bail out the beleaguered CBI.
Sources said the government is willing to concede more powers to the CBI in anti-corruption cases and even increase its prosecution powers. It is possible, sources claimed, that the government may limit permission to seek prosecution sanction for only secretary-level officers. As of now, the CBI has to approach the government for prosecuting joint secretaries and above.