SC seeks CBI's reply on transfer of officers from 2G probe

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to file its reply on BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea alleging that two senior CBI officers, probing the 2G spectrum cases, have been shifted.

A bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Arun Mishra said it would hear the CBI to decide whether the transfer was necessary and then take a call whether to ask the agency to re-transfer the officer concerned.

"You (CBI) reply to it (Swamy's application), on what reason you have transferred him (Joint Director Ashok Tewari)," the court said.

It said after giving a hearing to the agency, the court would decide on whether to ask for re-transfer of the officer or not.

The court's direction to the CBI came on a plea moved by Swamy who alleged that the transfer of officers involved in the investigation of 2G spectrum scam was against the Supreme Court's direction that no officer be disturbed till the probe was complete. The court asked the agency to file their reply within two weeks and slated the matter for further hearing on April 20.

Swamy said Tewari has been shifted from all 2G cases in January and was relieved from the CBI itself on Tuesday.

He said another officer, additional Director R K Datta, to whom Tewari has been reporting, has been empanelled as Special Director in the Government and was also likely to be shifted. "Such transfers, while the investigation is still going on, is in direct contradiction of the orders of this court," the plea said.

Swamy said the court must pass an order to bring back Tewari and retain Datta to enable them continue the ongoing probe in the 2G case till the trial was completed.