CBI to shut Rajiv Gandhi probe?

New Delhi: The fate of the multi-disciplinary monitoring agency (MDMA) of the CBI, constituted to probe the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, seems all but packed up with India’s premier investigating agency finally getting permission for its term extension, but only till 2016. In effect, thus, at this point, MDMA doesn’t have the mandate to carry out its probe after 2016.

CBI sources said that a request seeking term extension for MDMA was sent in 2015 to extend it till 2016. A subsequent request was sent in 2016 for extension of its term till 2017. After two years of persistent effort, the ministry of home affairs, has now granted extension of one year to the MDMA — for 2015. “This means that the term extension order has already lapsed. We are waiting for a response on the request seeking extension for 2016. As of now, the panel is functioning without approval,” said a source. The unit was set-up 17 years ago but is yet to wrap up its probe into the wider conspiracy angle in the assassination of the former PM. The panel, which was set up in 1998, comprises experts from CBI and other Central agencies.

Sources further said that all the clarifications and queries sought by the ministry have been furnished, but the final word was awaited. “Technically, it (MDMA) is functioning without any formal approval for the last one year,” sources said. The CBI has sent a fresh reminder to the MHA in this regard, they added.

The panel, which was set up in 1998, comprises experts from the CBI and other Central agencies. The MDMA was set up on the recommendation of retired judge Milap Chand Jain. Mr Jain wanted it to look into several areas he could not probe.

“The MDMA has been conducting further investigation in RC 9 (S)/1991-SCB/MAS (Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case) after obtaining necessary permission from the designated TADA Court, Chennai under section 173 (B) of the CrPC”, sources said. The Former Prime Minister was assassinated on May 21, 1991, when a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber blew herself up at an election rally in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, MDMA had sought permission from the Sri Lankan authorities to question the alleged financier of LTTE Selvarasa Pathmanathan.