Two days left, CBI chief still playing it safe

Though only two days are left of his tenure as the CBI director, Amar Pratap Singh is still cautious with his words. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that his post-retirement plan is still very much dependent on the government. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

Though only two days are left of his tenure as the CBI director, Amar Pratap Singh is still cautious with his words. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that his post-retirement plan is still very much dependent on the government.

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Singh dismisses talk of being made a member of the NHRC as a rumour. Other reports of being offered the post of UPSC member are also dismissed. But whatever may be the offer, it is still between him and the Centre.

"I will relax, travel and play golf," is all Singh reveals when asked about his post-retirement plans. He also steers away from making controversial statements when asked about the appointment of his batchmate (both are 1974 batch IPS officers), Ranjit Sinha, as his successor. "The selection was under the SC-mandated process."

But why does every political party have something to say about Sinha's appointment? "Well, it's an important post, and everyone has interest in it," he added.

Singh had a mixed record as the CBI chief. If the 2G investigation and the Aarushi-Hemraj murder probe were the highlights of his tenure, it was under his watch that the probe into the CWG scam crumbled.

When asked if the BJP is unhappy with him, Singh said, "The opposition parties have a feeling that the CBI works under government pressure. But it's a false perception. Our probes are monitored by HCs and SC."

Any unfinished agenda? "I could not fast-track around 200 cases that the agency had identified as matters which needed a push. Besides that, I wanted to make the CBI multi-disciplinary," Singh said.