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SC raps CBI, ED for delay in investigations, orders them to complete it in 6 months

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8 years ago

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The Supreme Court on Monday, March 12, pulled up the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate for inordinate delay in completing the probe into various cases related to the 2G spectrum allocation and told them to complete their investigations in 6 months.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha also asked the Centre to file within two weeks a status report on the progress made in the investigations over the past four years.

It may be recalled that a special CBI court on December 22 last had acquitted all 19 persons, including former union telecom minister A Raja, accused of various wrongdoings in what has infamously been called the 2G spectrum scam.

While the verdict by special CBI judge OP Saini was delivered in the case related to spectrum allocation to various telecom players during the period when Raja held the telecom portfolio in the UPA government, investigation in other cases – most notably the one related to the Aircel-Maxis deal in which former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram’s role is currently under the scanner – has been moving at a snail’s pace.

On Monday, the bench of Justice Arun Mishra also heard submissions against the centre’s decision to unilaterally discharge senior advocate Anand Grover from his Supreme Court-appointed role of special public prosecutor (SPP) in all 2G scam related cases and replace him with Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the aftermath of Judge Saini’s verdict.

The court accepted the centre’s decision to replace senior advocate Grover with ASG Tushar Mehta as the SPP in 2G scam cases but declined Attorney General Venugopal’s request to discharge him from the role of amicus curiae in these cases.

The judges also wondered why little progress had been made in the investigations by the CBI and ED.

Noting that four years had gone by since it had appointed senior advocate Grover as the SPP in the 2G cases, the top court asked the Centre: “what is the stage of investigation in these cases, how much of the probe is still left”? It then asked Attorney General KK Venugopal: “is there any invisible hand that is stalling the 2G probe”. The court then directed the CBI and ED to report to the court interferences, if any, in their probe.

“This case has a significance for the people of this country. It is an unfortunate state of affairs that investigations are not yet complete,” the top court observed. Stating that the Attorney General had assured the court that the remaining investigation in all 2G cases will be completed within six months, the bench said: “We direct the agencies (CBI and ED) to complete investigation within 6 months in all aspects of the matter and that no stone shall remain unturned.”

The court also then granted two weeks time to Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand to “file a status report of what has happened in the past four years in the investigations.”

It remains to be seen whether the reprimand from the top court would, in due course of time, shift the focus of the probe agencies from the 2G cases linked with A Raja to those in which the role of P Chidambaram and his son is being probed. Chidambaram’s role in giving Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to the Aircel-Maxis deal is currently under investigation by the two agencies, with Karti being placed under arrest for allegations linked to this case as well as those to the INX Media case.

The Aircel-Maxis case had been dismissed by the Patiala House court and was then challenged by the CBI in the Delhi High Court. The case had been registered by the CBI in 2012-13 after the DMK had exited the UPA government following allegations against Raja, Dayanidhi Maran and other leaders of the party in 2G scam cases. The CBI had then told the court that there were adverse remarks against Dayanidhi Maran in the Aircel-Maxis case.

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

9 hours ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

Published

1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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