The Hindu : New CBI chief to focus on preventive vigilance

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Sunday, Dec 07, 2003

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New CBI chief to focus on preventive vigilance

By Our Special Correspondent

The newly-appointed CBI Director, Uma Shankar Mishra (right), being greeted by the outgoing Director, P.C. Sharma, in New Delhi on Saturday. — Photo: R.V. Moorthy

NEW DELHI DEC. 5. The new Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, Uma Shankar Mishra, today promised to tackle graft among officialdom through preventive vigilance and strive to get back fugitives from abroad who were wanted for serious offences.

While continuing the work done by his predecessor, P.C. Sharma, Mr. Mishra said he would emphasise on preventive vigilance by mounting surveillance against officials of doubtful integrity.

A 1968 batch Orissa cadre IPS officer, Mr. Mishra has been working in the CBI as Special Director since September 2002. Talking to presspersons after taking over as the director, he said he would also set about the task of creating awareness about corruption as a crime. "Society must stigmatise the corrupt."

While not commenting on the Central Vigilance Commission Act, which has restored the Single Directive with the Centre — preventing the CBI from launching prosecution against any officer of the rank of Joint Secretary and above without the Government's permission — Mr. Mishra said that as far as the CBI was concerned it would function as per the Act.

However, since the CBI could not take up cases for investigation suo motu, the Centre was considering a proposal of the Justice Malimath Committee on reforming the criminal justice system, to probe crimes that were of a federal nature, on the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States.

In reference to the progress of the preliminary enquiry in the Dilip Singh Judev's cash-on-camera case, Mr. Mishra said the CBI had summoned Mr. Judev, his aide, Natwar Rataria, and others including the hotel staff.

Earlier, the outgoing Director, Mr. Sharma dismissed charges that the CBI's working was politicised. "Judge us by our decision and its quality. If we succumb to pressure the people and courts would not spare us," he said asserting that the inquiry in the case was progressing well and that the CBI was also trying to find out the person who allegedly gave the bribe.

Recalling his long association with the CBI, including 32 months as its chief, Mr. Sharma said he demitted office with a sense of achievement and for giving a new thrust to the organisation in the form of reducing time for investigation and modernising the CBI.

During his tenure, the CBI could secure the extradition of Monica Bedi, he said and hoped the process would be completed in a month.

Mr. Sharma, who would continue to be the Vice-President of Interpol, said he would work to build international opinion on the need for police in all countries to cooperate with regard to extradition/deportation of criminals.

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