The history of Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI as it is popularly called is one of flip flops and fumbles.   As the BJP has popularly put it, the CBI has been all along been functioning as Congress Bureau of Investigation rather than India’s premier investigating agency.

Opening new cases and closing old cases at its own convenience is not new for CBI.   Kumar Badal, the reporter who played a crucial role in the Tehelka’s infamous ‘operation westend’ which exposed the rot in the defence machinery and broke unmasked BJP which claimed to be a ‘party with a difference’ was haunted and bullied by the CBI for minor offences. The CBI’s clever games in protecting the family friend of Antonio Moino Gandhi to run away with Indian tax payers money is an open secret.

Now it appears that the CBI is doing it again in the nation’s biggest loot. Spectrum scam, the mother of all scams in India has shocked the conscience of the educated middle class and also the nation to a certain extent.   Only after the Supreme Court intervened the CBI woke from its 15 months sleep and started acting. But for the litigants and Prasant Bhushan, the spectrum scan would have been buried deeply in a burrow.

In spite of the scathing criticisms received by the CBI from the Supreme Court and mounting criticisms for its role in the CBI, it appears that always the ‘rich and mighty’ win.

Spectrum.   When the pioneer daily broke the story that India’s precious treasure ‘spectrum’ was plundered away, all hell broke loose.   The nation demanded an answer and a probe. Though newspaper columns were filled up with anguish and outrage over the plunder, nothing moved except a formal FIR by the CBI.   And even the CBI’s FIR conveniently failed to name any one except some ‘unknown officials’.   After the UPA 2 assumed charge, there was a belated raid.   The raids happened right under the nose of Raja, who was donning the telecom mantle.

Octogenarian Chief Minister and DMK’s chief continued to throw his weight behind Raja and Raja, continued to claim innocence and everything was done with the knowledge of Prime Minister. Manmohan continued to be in an ignorant bliss.

The scathing columns and editorials failed to move the government to direct the CBI to conduct a probe. Raja was sitting pretty inaugurating seminars and conferences and lecturing technology. The Radia tapes finally blew the lid.     Outlook and Open magazines published the transcripts of the tapes which stripped the DMK naked.   The entire nation was shocked how a lobbyist is forming cabinet. It also strengthened Manmohan’s image as a string puppet.

After the Supreme Court cracked the whip, the CBI pulled up its socks and conducted nationwide raids in December, giving ample time to those involved to cover their tracks.   CBI’s actions were viewed by the entire nation with skepticism. But the Supreme Court ensured that CBI’s probe is on the right track.

String of arrests followed.   A.Raja, the cell phone king was confined in a cell. The wheelchair ridden DMK patriarch continued to support Raja. DMK organized party meetings to explain the ‘truth’ behind spectrum (!!!!).   Even these farcical support of the DMK to Raja was taken with a pinch of salt by people who know the track record of the DMK chief, who would never hesitate to backstab anyone who comes in his way.

Raja’s support from his patron lasted only till the story about DB Realities’ loan to Kalaignar TV came out.   Karunanidhi went into a shell and conveniently forgot about Andimuthu Raja, whom he was describing as a ‘dalit icon’. Karuna immediately sensed trouble and started backdoor maneuvering with channels in Delhi. Karuna’s fortunes which were declining right from the day UPA 2 assumed office, slumped further.

To Karuna’s shock, the CBI mentioned about DB Realities’ suspicious loan in Raja’s remand extension report filed in the CBI Court. The CBI’s report spelled doom for Karuna as one of his wife holds a 60% stake and his pet daughter Kanimozhi held 20% in Kalaignar TV. But, the old fox Karuna, tried to control the damage. Kalaignar TV’s M.D. Sharad Kumar issued a statement that the entire loan amount received from DB Realty’s sister concern Cineyug films was repaid with an interest of Rs.31 crores. How generous ?

But what Sharad Kumar failed to elicit in his statement was WHEN the loan was repaid.

With the Supreme Court’s deadline to file charge sheet nearing, the CBI had no other option but to conduct raids at Kalaignar TV however pseudo it appeared.

In the meantime, Karunanidhi tried to save his daughter and one of his wives, who would land in deep trouble, if the probe went in the right direction. His efforts yielded results.

CBI, India’s so called premier investigating agency, conducted raids at Kalaignar TV office, after giving prior information to the concerned viz. Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi and of course Sonia, and conducted raids like a teenager visiting a brothel.   The raid was conducted in midnight without the knowledge of media and the staff of Kalignar TV including the security guard were strictly instructed not to whisper about the raid. The news about the raids only broke in the morning, by which time the CBI team had vanished.

Then came the question whether CBI would question Kani and Dayalu Ammal who obviously are the prime beneficiaries in the spectrum scam. This time too, the CBI served summons very discreetly and arranged for a rendezvous with Kani and Dhayalu at the fort of DMK. The questioning happened in DMK’s headquarters Arivalayam which was being thronged by party men with dreams of getting a DMK ticket to contest the assembly polls.   The farce ended quickly.

With the seat sharing deal between congress and DMK struck, after intense behind the screen negotiations, now it appears that the CBI has planned to give a ceremonious burial to the spectrum probe.

Information which flows from highly placed sources reveal that the loan which Kalaignar TV claims to have repaid was actually repaid only after the arrest of ‘dalit icon’ Raja.   The source of funds for this repayment has now come as a shocker.

Sources reveal that as soon as the CBI probe heated up, Karuna’s Delhi sources alerted him about the inevitability of the CBI knocking his doors.   Karuna swung into action and sent his ‘Chief Pimp’ Jaffer Sait, who also happens to be the Additional DGP of State Intelligence to raise funds.

Sources say that Jaffer Sait took one Dr.K.Shanmuganathan, along with him to meet two prominent industrialists in the state to raise funds. Dr.K.Shanmuganathan also happens to hold the 525 acre Windsor Estate in Ooty and the Mount Road Voltas building for Kanimozhi in his name.

ADGP Intellingence Jaffer Sait IPS

Jaffer Sait and Shanmuganathan went and met India Cements owner N.Srinivasan and Chettinad Cements’ proprietor MAM.Ramasamy.  

Sources add that N.Srinivasan bore the major share of the loan with an arrangement for airing advertisements in Kalaignar TV for the next five years. When Kalaignar TV’s fate itself is in question with a possibility of doomed if the CBI probe goes on track, what made Srinivasan enter into an agreement for 5 years ?   Please don’t forget that Srinivasan has raked in millions in the IPL and even ‘fixed’ the win of Chennai Cements owned team ‘Chennai Super Kings’.   MAM Ramasamy is also reported to have entered into similar arrangements with Kalaignar TV, for his part.

MAM Ramasamy

N.SRINIVASAN

It is pertinent to note that, in this year’s edition of Chennai Sangamam 2011, a cultural festival, which is a pet project of Karuna’s daughter Kanimozhi, India Cements and Chettinad Cements were one of the few sponsors, after which many firms turned down the invitation for sponsorship following CBI raids the previous month.

A hoarding at the venue of Chennai Sangamam 2011

If the author is able to secure information about this dubious deal, can’t the CBI with its huge paraphernalia ? Of course it could. But the same highly placed sources inform that summons issued to N.Srinivasan and MAM.Ramasamy has been put on hold, obviously on the instructions of some one who has iron control over the CBI. The sources further indicate that the spectrum probe would end with Andimuthu Raja, who is cooling his heels for the past one month in Tihar.

The efforts by the BJP to rake up ‘sedition’ charges against A.Raja which has a maximum conviction of a life sentence has also not been challenged by the DMK camp. The DMK supremo has decided to make Raja the ‘sacrificial lamb’ say sources with the main objective of saving his blood.

Sources say that Dr.Subramanian Swamy, who is spearheading the spectrum probe campaign for quite a long time has also been convinced not to rake up anything beyond Raja.   And obviously N.Srinivsasn is the negotiator for this deal, say sources. After all, blood is thicker than water.

With CBI not arresting the prime beneficiaries in the spectrum scam and treating them with kid gloves, it appears Andimuthu Raja has to do a long prison time and there is no ray of hope to him.

The way CBI probe is going, there are every chance of getting buried in spite of the whip in Supreme Court’s hand.