Rahul Gandhi terms CBI as ‘weapon for political vendetta’ under Modi govt

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday, October 22, termed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a "weapon of political vendetta" under the Narendra Modi's regime.

Gandhi's comments come after the CBI announced on Sunday that it has registered a case against its own Special Director Rakesh Asthana of accepting bribe to settle a case of meat exporter Moin Qureshi, who is facing multiple cases of money laundering and corruption.

"The PM's blue-eyed boy, Gujarat cadre officer, of Godra SIT fame, infiltrated as No. 2 into the CBI, has now been caught taking bribes," Gandhi tweeted.

"Under this PM, the CBI is a weapon of political vendetta. An institution in terminal decline that's at war with itself."

Addressing a media conference, Congress leader Sachin Pilot blamed "vested interests" within the Modi government for the "power-play" within the CBI.

"The power-play and blame game at the top level of the CBI is very alarming. Much is happening within the CBI which is unwanted and people are accused of corruption at the highest level. This internal war within the CBI is alarming.

"How do we trust the CBI to look at corruption issues when their top people are themselves involved and allegations are flying thick and fast," Pilot told the media.

"When top CBI officers are accusing each other of massive corruption where is the credibility and sanctity of this government and the CBI to function in an unbiased and transparent way.

"We think there are vested interest within the government and the CBI which has brought the agency to such a passe. Today the credibility and integrity of the CBI is under huge question mark," added Pilot.

Apart from Asthana, the CBI has also named Samant Kumar Goel, Special Director of RAW, but not as an accused. The CBI had also arrested Manoj Prasad, believed to be a middleman, when he returned from Dubai on 16 October. However, the agency has maintained silence on the issue.

Earlier, Asthana had filed a complaint against CBI Director Alok Verma accusing him of interfering in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation corruption case involving family members of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad.

(with inputs from agencies)