The Modi government has informed the Supreme Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) functions independently of the Centre’s control. This response came in response to a lawsuit filed by the West Bengal government challenging the CBI’s ongoing investigations in the state without the required consent.
Former deputy chief minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, has filed a bail plea in the Delhi High Court in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. The plea will be heard on Friday after the High Court agreed to list it for an urgent hearing. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February and by the ED in March for his alleged involvement in the scam. He resigned from the Delhi cabinet in February.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against six individuals, including a juvenile, in connection with the horrific gang rape and murder of two women from the Kuki-Zomi community in Manipur in July 2022. The chargesheet details the alleged involvement of Manipur Police personnel in driving the victims to a mob of rioters, who then stripped, paraded, and sexually assaulted them. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and led to widespread protests.
The Supreme Court has intervened in the teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal, staying a Calcutta High Court order directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate the involvement of government officials. The court has also ordered the CBI to refrain from taking any hasty actions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sparked headlines with her recent actions and statements during the ongoing Lok Sabha election campaign. In Malda district, she was captured on video dancing with local artists, showcasing her affinity with the people. However, her speech during a rally for TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee raised eyebrows as she questioned the integrity of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Banerjee alleged that the agency may have brought in the weapons seized during raids in Sandeshkhali, raising suspicions about their motives. Her accusations were met with criticism from BJP chief JP Nadda, who accused the West Bengal government of sympathizing with terrorists.
In response to allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, the CBI has registered its first case. The Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI investigation, prompting the agency to dispatch a team to verify the claims. Following preliminary verification, the CBI has filed an FIR based on the allegations of land grabbing and assault against women. The agency is also tasked with investigating the conversion of agricultural land to water bodies for pisciculture and is expected to submit a comprehensive report to the High Court at the next hearing on May 2.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly condemned the Calcutta High Court’s decision to annul the entire panel of 2016 School Service Commission teachers’ recruitment, leading to the cancellation of all appointments of teachers and non-teaching staff. Banerjee has accused the BJP of buying the court, CBI, NIA, BSF, and CAPF. She has urged the Supreme Court to provide justice and has called for a boycott of Doordarshan, alleging that it has become a mouthpiece for the BJP.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals, including Inspector Balwant Singh of the Haryana Police, in connection with a bribery case. Singh, who was posted as the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Cyber Crime Police Station in Yamunanagar district, was allegedly demanding an illegal gratification of Rs 40 lakh from a complainant in exchange for not framing him in a case under investigation. After negotiations, the accused agreed to accept Rs 5 lakh as a bribe, leading to the CBI’s intervention and subsequent arrest. The accused persons were produced before a special CBI judge in Chandigarh. The Yamunanagar Police Department has initiated the process of suspending Inspector Balwant Singh and has also initiated departmental and disciplinary actions against him.
Akash Anand, the national coordinator of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), has cautioned against aggressive attacks on the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP government, citing potential retaliation. Anand asserted that the community represented by BSP is vulnerable to retribution from agencies such as the ED and CBI. Unlike other parties with political or financial backing, BSP lacks the power to protect its people from such retaliation, he emphasized. Anand’s comments highlight BSP’s cautious approach, prioritizing the well-being of its core voters over confrontational tactics that could harm them. Despite the party’s recent electoral setbacks, Anand maintains that BSP’s core vote remains intact, unlike other opposition parties.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to question Amit Chakraborty, the former NewsClick HR head, in Tihar Jail on Wednesday in connection with its probe into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Chakraborty, who is currently in judicial custody, is expected to be questioned about the alleged investments received from US-based Worldwide Media Holdings (WMH) in the company PPK NewsClick Studio Pvt.
