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.
