New Delhi: Daijiworld Media Network -(SP)
Bangalore /New Delhi, Apr 10: Ex CBI director Jogindar Singh has alleged, that ex -Prime Minister(PM) Deve Gowda used to interfere with the routine working of the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI). "Deve Gowda brought pressure on me to file an affidavit in the court, stating that Surinder Mahato, main witness in the JMM Bribery Scam case, was not a reliable witness. Being a part of the government, interference by political leaders is not new to CBI," he explained.
"The politicians do not want to lose their hold on investigating agencies. Therefore, none of the successive governments were interested in giving autonomous status to the CBI. I received a call from Deve Gowda to meet him. “When I met the then PM, he said, Narasimha Rao wants the CBI to file an affidavit claiming Mahato to be an unreliable witness. Gowda also said Rao feels you are not cooperating with him on the issue," Jogindar said. Singh added, he refused to compromise on the issue.
The retired CBI director also claimed, he faced various allegations for not dancing to the tunes of politicians in this case. When questioned as to whether the CBI has decided to give a clean chit to Jagadish Tytler for his role in the anti-Sikh raids in the capital, Singh refused to comment. He however added, that this possibility can not be ruled out, considering his past experience.
Reacting to the allegation, Deve Gowda said the allegations levelled by Singh against him are baseless. He accused the former CBI director of working hand in glove with some vested interests in the Congress party who were hatching a conspiracy against ex-Prime Minister Narasimha Rao at the time. Singh, who could not establish the bribery charges for three years, tried to charge a witness overnight. When I condemned this effort, some Congress leaders had criticized my efforts," Gowda said. He also said that making use of Jogindar to weaken the Third Front for political gains tantamount to misuse of investigating officers for political benefits, which is a serious matter.