CBI asks Harish Rawat to appear before May 24, he says I am ready

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said he will fully cooperate with the CBI after the investigation agency had asked him to appear before it on May 24 in connection with a probe into the purported sting operation.

“I will fully cooperate with the agency (CBI),” Rawat said.

The Chief Minister said he had earlier requested the CBI to come to Dehradun to question him as it would be difficult for him to go to Delhi to appear before them but they rejected his request.

Uttarakhand cabinet had on May 15 made a recommendation for forming a judicial panel headed by retired High Court judge to probe into a string of significant issues during the President’s rule in the state.

The state cabinet also had decided to constitute a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the case as it was a state subject.

Rawat said that CBI, the SIT and the judicial panel will simultaneously probe into the sting operation.

The CBI had last week rejected the state government’s notification withdrawing the case related to the sting operation.