Disclose the whistle-blower: Supreme Court on CBI’s Chief Visitors Book

The Supreme Court today asked Prashant Bhushan, appearing for CPIL, to disclose the identity of the person who leaked the entry register of CBI chief Sinha’s house.

The Bench headed by Justice Dattu said that it must know the identity of the person before taking a call on the proceedings regarding the controversial visitors’ logbook of CBI Director’s residence.

CBI Director Mr. Ranjit Sinha has been the centre of the controversy when Prashant Bhushan submitted to the Supreme Court that he has in his possession the visitor registers of CBI Director’s resident,  according to which, top officials of a company indicted in 2G scam met CBI Director at his residence in the last 15 months.

The Supreme Court said that the identity of the whistle-blower is a must as the affidavit submitted by CPIL in the matter will otherwise be not in compliance with the Supreme Court Rules.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Ranjit Sinha, claimed that the visitors book is not authentic and that more than 90 percent of it is made up.

Reportedly, he also alleged it seems that it is the Zee Group which is targeting the CBI Director, as DNA newspaper has been reporting how the hearing would take place, even before the happen. He added that these proceedings were also likely to benefit the 2G cases accused.

The CBI Director has earlier asked the Supreme Court to stop the media from covering the hearings, a plea which was rejected by the Court.

The Bench listed the next day of hearing as Monday, and Mr. Bhushan has been asked to provide the name of the whistle-blower in a sealed envelope.

The Supreme Court had earlier asked the CBI Director to file two separate affidavits – one on the merits as to why he should not be removed from the 2G cases besides initiating an inquiry against him, and second, on the maintainability of the application by NGO CPIL, which has sought actions against him in view of damning disclosures by the visitors’ logbook.

Mr. Bhushan has already filed the visitors’ book as an annexure with the previous affidavit filed by CPI,a petitioner in the 2G case.