Sir — This refers to the editorial, “No intent to free CBI” (August 5). The ruling Congress knows that if the Central Bureau of Investigation is made fully autonomous and its director becomes all powerful, many of the corrupt leaders will find themselves behind bars, hence its extreme reluctance to make the CBI independent.
But the apex court which castigated the UPA Government and called the CBI a ‘caged parrot’, should force the Government to unshackle the premier investigation agency and make it independent just like the Election Commission and the Central Vigilance Commission, which the political establishment can neither dictate nor influence.
To tackle corruption in high places, the CBI should be vested with powers that allow it to prosecute anyone, unmindful of their stature, financial power or political clout. This is imperative to ensure that the wily and the cunning, guilty of divesting the nation of its resources do not escape justice by citing the ‘coalition dharma’. But, there should be safeguards to ensure that these powers are not misused by the CBI. It is now for the apex court to take a call.