CBI on Centre’s radar for not probing arms company chief

the needful. In the next hearing on 20 April, the SC gave the CBI a “last chance” to comply with its March 7 order and again gave it two weeks’ time. In the subsequent hearing on 17 May, the SC agreed to the CBI’s demand that another three months be given to serve the notice.

Finally, on 10 September 2018, an exasperated Supreme Court dismissed the CBI’s appeal, as the agency failed to lay its hands on Garbe, despite repeated reminders and extensions from the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court added that it appeared that the petitioner was not interested in pursuing the matter.

Coming down heavily on the agency, the Supreme Court observed: “Despite repeated opportunities granted by the Registry and by the Judge in Chambers, counsel for the petitioner (CBI) has not taken steps for service on the sole respondent (Garbe), who is stated to be residing abroad, through Ministry of Home Affairs. It appears that the petitioner is not interested to pursue the Special Leave Petition.”

The conduct of the agency has generated fresh interest among top government officials, as the CBI, along with the Union Law Ministry, had rushed to the Supreme Court after the High Court judgement, albeit after taking a long time, while fielding Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal to seek “condonation” and a fresh appeal against Garbe’s exoneration.

The 20-plus page petition was filed by CBI SP, Ra- jiv Ranjan on behalf of the agency. The CBI had alleged that Garbe had, in order to illegally get his firm off the Ministry of Defence blacklist, had paid around Rs 3.5 crore.

The Attorney- General had told the Supreme Court at the time that the Delhi High Court order of clearing Garbe was “erroneous” and the CBI had found “new evidences”.