What is the issue?
CBI’s reputation has taken a serious damage as the trial court judge in the 2G case had criticised it for incompetence.
What makes the case high-profile?
- The 2G case rocked the telecom sector and played a major role in allegations about massive corruption against the UPA.
- The case involved enquiry into the 2008 spectrum allocations by the telecom ministry at throwaway prices, which was supposedly with immoral intentions.
- The alleged scam was touted to be the biggest in India’s history and the CAG report estimating a notional loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crores to the exchequer.
- 16 people that included high profile politicians, bureaucrats and many business executives of India’s top telcos were on trial.
- Significantly, in 2012 the Supreme Court had cancelled all the spectrum licences allocated as it was convinced of procedural irregularities.
- Recently, all the members on trial were acquitted due to lack of conclusive evidence and the judgement also questioned the CBI’s resolve in case.
How has CBI’s prosecution fared?
- Despite the strong case, as the CBI had failed to establish the criminality of any of the accused, it has affected the credibility of it as an institution.
- Significantly, the court itself noted that while the CBI’s start in the case was good, the prosecution steadily deteriorated and became directionless.
- Notably, the prosecution even refrained from signing documents and replies before the court, thus robbing the whole process of any credibility.
- Though the CBI has stated that it will appeal against the verdict in the Delhi High Court, the damage to its image has already been done.
What lies ahead?
- The verdict is confusing as the accusations regarding the pricing of the spectrum as well as the arbitrariness in allocations remain unresolved.
- It is now up to the CBI to substantiate its claims with proper supporting evidences in higher courts to resolve the case and restore its reputation.
- The judgment underscores the need for much greater maturity and case-building capability on the part of the CBI.
- It also highlights the case for making the CBI genuinely independence so as aid it acquire credibility among the larger public.
Source: Business Standard
