CVC set to evaluate 2G probe

NEW DELHI: The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is in the process of putting in place modalities to undertake Supreme Court’s assignment to independently evaluate the 2G scam investigation being carried out by the CBI and the ED, and submit a status report.

As a first step, CVC Pradeep Kumar had decided to meet heads of both investigating agencies and discuss the modalities of holding review meetings on regular intervals. Sources said that the commission wants to hold meeting on a fortnightly basis to review the case’s progress.  Sources added that senior CVC officials are being extra cautious in setting up the mechanism as it is the first time that the two investigating agencies is sharing their findings with them in a highly sensitive case. Moreover, for the first time the commission will play an ‘active’ role in shaping the course of 2G investigation.

The CBI and the ED are still probing into several crucial angles like money trail in foreign banks of politicians and corporates arrested in the case. Also the chargesheet still had to be filed against big names like former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi, besides scores of serving and retired senior bureaucrats involved in the case.

Till now, the CVC’s role vis-a-vis the CBI was of ‘superintendence’ in monitoring corruption cases filed under PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act against public servants. The agency, however, only used to sent statistics and never shared details of their investigation with the commission.

Meanwhile, Kumar had started holding consultation with some other key players in the case to understand the complex issues. There was no surprise that his first meeting was with CAG Vinod Rai whose audit report had nailed former telecom minister A Raja and several others. The two met last week to discuss the case.

Sources said that Kumar felt that it would be prudent to have a first-hand knowledge about the case from the CAG’s boss before meeting with investigating agencies.

The apex court had on February 2 asked the CBI to submit status reports on further investigation into the matter to the CVC, which will assist the court.

The court’s decision came on a plea for setting up an  SIT to look into the 2G case.