Refusing to appear before the CBI in connection with a corruption case involving his son, Buta Singh has made it clear that the agency had no mandate to summon him as he was a Constitutional functionary having powers of a civil court. In a two page letter to CBI Director Ashwani Kumar, Singh, Chairman of the National Commission for Schedule Caste
(NCSC), questioned the CBI summoning a constitutional functionary "without following the mandate of law".

 He said the stature of the NCSC itself was that of a civil court. "Consequently, the Chairman of the NCSC holds and exercises the respective powers of civil court. Also there is a settled procedure in law and no police official or CBI official can issue them direct letter, calling them to appear before it."

Singh was asked to appear before the agency on or before today but he did not turn up. His son Sarabjot Singh was
arrested by the CBI on July 31 for allegedly taking bribe of Rs. one crore from a Nashik-based contractor to settle his case before the NCSC.

"Incidentally, this act of summoning the constitutional authorities without following the mandate of law has been
given undue publicity in media also by the concerned CBI officials and the same is not only derogatory but reflects the
arrogance on part of those CBI officials."