CBI Director Ranjit Sinha on Saturday filed an additional affidavit in the Supreme Court blaming lawyer Prashant Bhushan for sourcing privileged communication with him and UU lalit, former Special Public Prosecutor of 2G cases and now a Judge in the apex court. In the nine-page affidavit, Sinha accused Bhushan of maligning him by raking up the fodder scam issue wherein the Patna High Court had 18 years ago removed the CBI chief from the probe team.
Sinha in his first affidavit filed in sealed cover on Friday is believed to have admitted of his meetings with controversial lobbyists and industrialists linked with 2G & Coalscam at his official residence. In the new affidavit, Sinha urged the court to put an exemplary cost on Bhushan for maligning his reputation as well as of the CBI.
“The petitioner is making averments with regard to the correspondence between the deponent (Ranjit Sinha)and Special Public Prosecutor, CBI which is a privileged communication," said Sinha. Bhushan had produced lalit's letter while heavily criticising the CBI Director for attempts to dilute the 2G case by providing escape route to Reliance Telecom's top three officials.
The tainted CBI Director also wanted the Court to seek the "motive of Bhushan" in releasing the visitors' register as well as identity of the whistleblower. He argued, in this case rules regarding keeping the identity of whistleblower do not stand.
Citing several judgments, Sinha argued in the affidavit that Bhushan's petition should be rejected. Terming Bhushan's petition as frivolous one, the CBI Director said the Court should take action against Bhushan as in the case of controversial CDs of Amar Singh, the former SP leader.
Countering Bushan's affidavit, Sinha claimed that the SC's Coal bench never blamed him in personal capacity. "Supreme Court has depreciated the practise followed by Registry of the Supreme Court of placing such affidavits before the Court," said Sinha citing the judgment on infamous CD case related to Amar Singh.
The Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Hl Dattu will hear the case on Monday. Similarly another bench headed by Chief Justice RM lodha would also hear the matter in relation to meeting of owners of Coalscam accused companies by Sinha on September 19.