CBI defends handling of Satyendra Dubey case, says no evidence of mafia role

Facing criticism from family of murdered NHAI whistleblower Satyendra Kumar Dubey over handling of the case, the CBI today said it had carried out an impartial investigation and found "no evidence" of a possible conspiracy by contractors or mafia as alleged by his brother.
       
The CBI conducted "an impartial, fair and professional  investigation in the case," the agency said in a statement as
the three convicted for Dubey's murder were sentenced to life
imprisonment by a special CBI court here.

"The investigation into the case of robbery and murder of  Satyendra Kumar Dubey was pursued in all plausible directions including possible conspiracy hatched by the contractors, mafia to eliminate Dubey as alleged by his brother Dhananjay Kumar Dubey," the CBI said.

Accusing the CBI of a cover-up, Dubey's brother Dhananjay had claimed that the three convicted were "purely innocent" and the real culprits were still on the loose. 

However, the CBI claimed that "no evidence came on record showing that deceased Satyender Kumar Dubey was eliminated under any conspiracy by the contractors or mafia as alleged in the complaint of his brother Dhananjay.

"A number of officials, contractors and engineers connected with the NHAI Project were examined with reference to the issues raised by deceased in his letter addressed to the prime minister of India," CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

He said the close friends of Dubey were also contacted to find out if he had disclosed any threat to his life particularly from any contractor or mafia after he had sent the complaint to the Prime Minister.

"His friends and even his brother could not provide any information which the deceased might have disclosed to them. The personal staff of deceased including his stenographer, peon and driver were also examined."

The CBI official said the trial court has upheld the investigation of the CBI by sentencing all the three accused persons in this case to life imprisonment. 

It added Dubey had also written a letter to the chief vigilance officer of NHAI, New Delhi, with the object to improve the system so as to achieve optimum and desired output in the implementation of the project.

The information as contained in his letters was further developed into a credible information by CBI and a separate case was  egistered on November 26, 2004 in New Delhi against the senior officers of NHAI and the construction company.

A chargesheet was filed by CBI against a scientist on deputation from Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi and a retired Brigadier along with official of the construction company and also the construction Company in the Court of Special Judge (South) Patna on July 31, 2007, it sends.

It was alleged that the accused entered into conspiracy and in pursuance thereof they allowed the contracted work to be executed through incompetent and un-approved sub-contractors which was of sub-standard quality and on much lesser rates than the rates actually paid to the main contractor.

The case is presently undertrial in the Court of Special Judge (South) Patna, the CBI official said. 

He said the CBI is fully committed to protect the whistleblowers against harassment or victimisation.