- (1.) This Application (I.A.No.5 of 2015) for Directions has been filed by Mr. Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Secretary to the Committee, headed by Justice R.M. Lodha, Former Chief Justice, and appointed in terms of our Order dated 22nd January, 2015. The application points out that since Mr. B.B. Mishra, earlier heading the investigating team, appointed by this Court in terms of our Order dated 16th May, 2014, has superannuated and since the Committee has, upon consideration of the material collected by the earlier investigating team, come to the conclusion that further investigation is required into the role of Sundar Raman, CEO, IPL, a substitute investigating team needs to be constituted. Enclosed with the application is the record of proceedings of the Committee by which the Committee has recommended that further investigation in terms of the decision of the Committee could be entrusted to Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi, SP, CBI (Anti-Corruption), assisted by an investigating team of his choice. The application prays for a direction appointing Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi, SP, CBI (Anti-Corruption), as head of the investigating team to carry out the required investigation in terms of para "110(III)" of our Order dated 22nd January, 2015. The application also prays for conferring upon the newly constituted investigating team the same powers as were conferred upon the earlier investigation team under our Order dated 16th May, 2014.
(2.) Having heard Mr. Senthil Jagadeesan, learned counsel appearing for the Committee, we see no reason to decline the prayers made in the application.
(3.) We accordingly direct that in place of Mr. B.B. Mishra, I.P.S., earlier appointed as head of the investigating team, the investigating team shall now be headed by Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi, SP, CBI (Anti-Corruption). We further direct that Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi shall be free to choose a team of officers to assist him in conducting the investigation from within the C.B.I. or outside. We direct the competent authority in the Government of India to permit Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi to undertake the investigation and to provide him all assistance including assistance of such number of officers as may be required for conducting the investigation. Needless to say any officer working in the State Police or other department, if chosen for being a member of the investigating team, shall be spared by the State Government concerned to assist the team. We further direct that all powers conferred upon the earlier investigating team headed by Mr. B.B. Mishra like power of investigating, compelling attendance of witnesses, power to examine witnesses, power to search and power to seize and all other powers necessary for investigation except the power to arrest, shall also be exercisable by the team headed by Mr. Vivek Priyadarshi. The source of such powers shall continue to be the Order dated 16th May, 2014, as modified by this Order. Needless also to say that B.C.C.I. and all those concerned shall lend full cooperation and assistance to the newly constituted investigating team.;