INDIA AT TURNING POINT: The Road to Good Governance by Subramanian T.S.R

Author:Subramanian, T.S.R. [Subramanian, T.S.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd 2014
Published: 2013-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

11

THE CBI NEEDS FIXING (ALSO HOW IT TRIED TO ‘FIX’ ME)

Ou sont les scammes d’antan—with apologies to Joseph Heller

That the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has been a handmaiden of the government in power is well known in all inside circles. Most outsiders also suspect that this is so, without having definite knowledge or information about it. The senior echelons of the central government, in particular the prime minister and his office, and the party in power treat the CBI as an instrument of governance—to suspend a ‘Damocles Sword’ over persons who could be potential allies or enemies, and dangle it with appropriate finesse at the right time to meet short-term and long-term needs; as also to critically alter the pace, substance and direction of investigations into alleged wrong-doings by those in authority or opposed to it. If in the early stages of investigation critical documents are allowed to be destroyed, ‘disappeared’ or handled strategically—also evidence ‘planted’ judiciously where appropriate—these can impact the progress of the investigation in a definitive way. This can be used to ‘kill’ a case or create a suspicion where none is possible or open a case and keep it hanging to ensure continuing support. All of these with infinite variations, are deadly games that are played all the time.

I can recount in broad detail, a CBI case that was registered against me, its circumstances, contours, motivations and its objectives, and its progress. Since, as far as I know, the case has not been formally closed, friends have advised me not to talk about it openly. I am not young any more, I have had the matter with me for more than a decade now. I think that the time has now come to bring out the facts as I know them, state them to a degree of detail, so that an example of how CBI functions can be illustrated. All elements central to CBI’s character are illustrated in this episode, in microcosm.

In early January 1998, the finance ministry, in its internal notings had expressed apprehensions about shortfall in wheat production in the country. In a series of notes between 6.1.1998 and 9.1.1998, with contributions from the then head of the economic section, and the Chief Economic Advisor (who later became planning minister), it was said that it was ‘inevitable’ to go for the import of one million tonnes of wheat, in view of the potential shortfall in production, consequent reduction in food procurement quantum, and therefore potential impact on prices. This had the approval of the finance minister, who sent the file to the Cabinet Secretary (myself), for his views. I quickly consulted the Agriculture Secretary and Food Secretary, and replied that as of that date there was no need to panic, that we could wait for some more time before deciding on import; that since the Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP) had not met for some time, should not an early meeting be called to discuss the issue. The finance minister asked for the meeting on 19.

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