Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his office have lost credibility, the Congress said on Monday, responding to what it termed “deeply shocking revelations” by IPS officer and Nagpur branch head of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Manoj Kumar Sinha in the Supreme Court.
Mr. Sinha, in a plea challenging his transfer from CBI headquarters to Nagpur, accused Minister of State Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary of taking a bribe of a “few crores of rupees” to settle a case. He also accused Minister in the PMO Jitender Singh of aiding Mr. Chaudhary. Mr. Sinha further claimed that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had intervened in investigations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana.
The affidavit filed by him in the Supreme Court also mentions Chief Vigilance Commissioner K.V. Chowdhary and Law Secretary Suresh Chandra.
The Congress has appealed to the Supreme Court to constitute an independent enquiry into the revelations and also demanded a parliamentary probe.
Addressing a press conference, Congress media in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the “deeply shocking revelations” have put a “question mark” on Mr. Modi and the functioning of the PMO. The PMO is protecting the accused, he said.
He pointed out that the revelations were made by an officer who had access to information and had been investigating important cases of corruption as DIG in the CBI headquarters Delhi, before he was unceremoniously transferred to Nagpur.
“Never in the 71-year-old of history of the country has the stench of corruption so pervaded a government and the PM’s office as also the entire spectrum of bureaucracy in this fashion,” Mr. Surjewala said.