What are the norms for ordering a CBI probe?
11 May, 2012In 2008, six members of Mahbub Khan’s family including three children, were murdered and their bodies were allegedly burnt by a right wing group in Adilabad district which was labeled as the Vattoli massacre by the media. Two days later, the Andhra Pradesh government had announced a CBI enquiry holding that this is a grievous case of mass murder and the government issued a G.O.Ms.No2011 to pave way for a CBI probe. Nearly four years after the incident, the CBI probe is yet to start.
In response to an application filed under the RTI Act, the Special Secretary to AP government, Home department Mr. T.A. Tripathy (IPS), has informed that state government had issued a G.O.Ms.No2011 dated 16.08.2008 with a request to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Personnel, Pensions and Public Grievances to issue necessary instructions to CBI for the probe as it was a grievous case of mass murder. Vide a letter dated 15-04-2009, the state government was informed by the Undersecretary, Union Ministry of Personnel that the grave case doesn’t have any inter-state or international ramifications and thus a CBI enquiry is not feasible.
Questions shave been raised regarding the criterion for selection of cases for investigation by the CBI. It is being asked whether cases having inter-state or international ramifications became essential to order a CBI enquiry. Critics have contrasted it with the Arushi Talwar case which CBI is handling with no inter-state or international ramification.
In the meanwhile, the AP Police has claimed that CB CID has cracked the case and there is no more need of a CBI enquiry.