Retired Maharashtra cop's bid to quash CBI Director's appointment dismissed by Bombay High Court

Retired Maharashtra cop's petition dismissed by Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has rejected a petition filed by former Maharashtra police official Rajendra Trivedi, who sought to annul the appointment of IPS officer Subodh Jaiswal as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director.

Request to halt Jaiswal's duties denied

Trivedi's plea also requested the court to prevent Subodh Jaiswal from performing his CBI director duties until the case concluded.The core of Trivedi's plea revolved around the Telgi scam, an investigation led by Jaiswal while heading a Special Investigating Team (SIT). During court hearings, criticism was directed at Jaiswal's handling of the case, which was eventually transferred to the CBI in 2004. Trivedi argued that the CBI director should be the most senior IPS officer with experience in anti-corruption investigations and unblemished credibility. Trivedi alleged that Jaiswal's appointment lacked these qualifications as he had never been associated with an anti-corruption unit.

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Outcome and future actions

However, Additional Solicitor General of Maharashtra, Devang Vyas, informed the court that Subodh Jaiswal's term as CBI director had ended on May 25, 2023, rendering the petition moot. Trivedi's lawyers indicated their intention to withdraw the petition but expressed concern over the possibility of Jaiswal's appointment as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The court agreed that such an appointment would constitute a new cause of action, allowing Trivedi to file a fresh petition if needed. The court's decision focused solely on Jaiswal's appointment as CBI chief, eliminating the necessity for the liberty to file a new petition.

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