Mumbai, Feb 1 (IANS) Calling it the "Congress Bureau of Investigation", Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Tuesday said investigative agency CBI was carrying out "politically-motivated probes" in various cases, including the Adarsh Society scam in Mumbai.

In a stinging editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena chief said for long the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been used as a tool for political oppression by the Congress party to silence or discipline opponents.

Thackeray pointed out that whenever major scams hit the headlines, there was a clamour for CBI investigation into the matter.

Depending on the Congress party's requirements, this "weapon" is used against people ranging from Mayawati to Mulayam Singh Yadav and when its interests are served, the "weapon" is recalled.

However, little do the proponents realise that once the matter goes to the CBI, it spells the end of the case and the scamsters virtually go scot-free.

"The CBI has investigated thousands of cases, but barring the odd conviction, all the other cases are forgotten. CBI investigations are nothing but a farce," he said in the edit, making a reference to the 2G spectrum scam, the Commonwealth Games scam, the Aarushi murder case and the Adarsh Society scam.

In the Adarsh Society scam, Thackeray said, the CBI named Maharashtra's former chief minister Ashok Chavan and 12 others as accused and carried out raids in different places in the state.

"It is as if these smart politicians and bureaucrats were waiting to welcome the CBI and hand over important files and secret documents to them which remained hidden for nearly four months after the scam was exposed," he said sarcastically.

Thackeray said the CBI should instead register FIRs against other powerful people, ranging from politicians Narayan Rane and Ajit Pawar to bureaucrats Uttam Khobragade and Jairaj Phatak who hold 'benami' flats in the controversial society.

He said the CBI's drama of raids and probes was intended to hoodwink people and it is in the best interest of all that the drama ends as soon as possible.