NEW DELHI: Home Minister S.B.Chavan indicated in the Rajya Sabha that the Government would not “compel” CBI Joint Director K, Madhavan to change his decision to seek voluntary retirement.

He also denied that the Government was trying to influence the inquiry into the scam or scuttle it.

 Both Houses of Parliament witnessed heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches over the Madhavan’s seeking voluntary retirement. Opposition members maintained that pressure had been put on the CBI officer to quit an allegation which was strongly denied by the Government and ruling party members. Because of the uproar, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for 48 minutes without transacting Question Hour. In the Lok Sabha Question Hour could not be taken up at all.

 Minister of State for Personnel Margaret Alva told both Houses that Madhavan had told his superiors in the CBI that he was seeking  retirement  entirely for personal reasons,” She said the Government had been “no interference with his work,” she said.

In the Rajya Sabha, the Home: Minister urged Opposition: members not to “see politics” in everything and asserted that the Government had not interfered and would not interfere in the investigation of the scam. | He denied as “untrue” a charge that Madhavan was prevented by the Prime Minister from, naming two ministers on a file on the security scam. i When Chavan read out the resignation letter which said that Madhavan wanted voluntary retirement from October 30,1992 “due to certain circumstances,” Opposition members wanted to know what those “circumstances” were.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 14, 1992