I hold no brief for Chidambaram. If he has something wrong, he must be brought to book. But the manner in which the CBI is dealing with P Chidambaram smacks of political vendetta and witch-hunting. The whole affair has brought CBI further down in my eyes. CBI has again lived up to its “caged parrot” label put by no less than the Supreme Court of India. Just take into account, facts related to la affaire Chidambaram. When Chidambaram got no relief from the High Court, he moved the Supreme Court. The apex court fixed 23rd August as the next date of hearing. CBI should have waited till 23rd August. Chidambaram is no terrorist. He is not Osama bin Laden. But on the 21st August night, the “supercops ” of CBI jumped over the wall of Chidambaram’s bungalow and nabbed him like an al-Qaeda terrorist. Political analysts pointed out that when Chidambaram was the Home Minister, he had Amit Shah arrested. Now, the wheel has turned full circle. Amit Shah is in the Home Minister’s chair. And Chidambaram has been caught by cops. To please, Amit Shah, CBI has gone out of way to arrest Chidambaram. But CBI’ s already battered reputation lies in tatters.
Contrast the CBI’s alacrity in Chidambaram’s case with its dull responses in cases related to Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. The CBI reportedly modified the Lookout Notice to help Mallya. The word “detain” was replaced with “inform”. By the time the CBI was informed about Vijay Mallya’s escape it was too late and the King of Good Times was enjoying his chilled beer in London! The same incompetence was repeated in cases of Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi, the mama-bhanja duo who looted India and fled the country. When Choksi and Modi were looting India, Nadirshah was turning in his grave. Even his loot stood nowhere in comparison with the mama-bhanja loot. The CBI paved the way for their escape because these Gujaratis are very close to another Gujarati called Narendrabhai Damodardas Modi! Now Narendra Modi’s Mehul Bhai is a citizen of distant Antigua far, far from CBI’s clutches. If Chidambaram had been born Chidambhai Patel, CBI would have looked the other way but the idli-dosa eating lungi-clad Tamil Chettiar is an easy prey for the CBI supercops.
Narendra Modi and his gang have destroyed CBI through constant carpet bombings. Prashant Bhushan and others met the former CBI Director Alok Verma and handed him over documents related to 30,000 crore Raphale scam. The Modi Gang swung into action. The Delhi police laid seize to the CBI Headquarters and in a Pakistani style military coup, the Director was sent on the forced leave at 1.30 in midnight! The CBI Director is appointed by a collegium consisting of PM, CJI and the Leader of Opposition. The CJI and the Opposition Leader were not taken into confidence. But who cares for rules when Mr 56inch is the PM with a graduation degree in “entire political science”?
The Supreme Court is the only beacon of hope in these dark days. I hope Chidambaram gets bail tomorrow. Meanwhile, CBI will continue to function as an RSS wing. Let us call it Akhil Bhartiya Anveshan Parishad!
(Mr. Amitabh Kumar Das is a 1994 batch IPS Officer. His views are personal.)
