NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is understood to have taken into its possession details of bank accounts, properties, shares and jewelry purchased and other assets acquired from 10 Union Ministers, Presidents and Working President of three major political parties, bureaucrats and a number of other politicians.
This was a sequel to the notices served on these leading personalities by the CBI a couple of months ago during the course of investigations in the Rs.65 crores Hawala case. In a disclosure made before the Supreme Court of India, the CBI is understood to have said it is closely scrutinizing vital documents.
The case, known as Jai Hawala case involving former Prime Ministers, several sitting Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and others are to come up before the Apex Court soon, before the three judge bench headed by Mr. Justice J.S. Verma which is monitoring it on a day today basis.
The Apex Court had stepped in after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed seeking speedier probe as the premier investigation agency was “dragging” its feet for years to pursue the matter. But once Mr. Justice J.S Verma told the CBI that the court would give full protection to the investigators and waives government rules provided they produced results, Since then, the progress has been fast.
It is not known whether the CBI will be submitting before the bench on November 29 details of progress made as the task is enormous and likely to take at least two, more months. According to informed sources a team of nearly 200 inspectors, investigators, auditors, hired chartered accountants and experts is working overtime under the direct charge of Mr. K.Vijaya Ramarao, Director and Mr. NIN. Singh, Special Director in the CBI.
The CBI is trying to establish a nexus between illegal payments made by the Jains to the tune of Rs.65 crores between 1988-1991 to politicians and bureaucrats and favors sought from them in return. It is also trying to find ‘out whether the recipients of these payments had acquired assets disproportionate to their known sources of income during this period.
Ibis with this purpose that the CBI has sought and received details of bank documents and assets acquired by those who figure in the Jain diary.
It is learnt that Human Resources Development Minister, Mr. Madhav Rao Scindia, sent “truckload of documents” about assets of his family members. This, after his angry outbursts against the CBI Director failed to deter the agency. The minister was politely told that probe is being done directly under the supervision of the ‘Apex Court and if he failed to com: ply, the agency would have to explore its other options.
Another Union Minister whose assets and properties during the 1988-91 periods have come under close scrutiny is also from Madhya Pradesh, ‘The Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Minister Mr. V.C. Shukla have been asked to explain some of the expenditure incurred by him during the crucial three year period.
Similarly, Mr. Arjun Singh, Working President of the Breakaway faction of the Congress, against whose name huge payments had been listed by the Jains is also under intense Scrutiny, Mr. L.K. Advani President of the Bharatiya Janata Party is alleged to have taken part also.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 1, 1995
