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{{Short description|Indian law enforcement official (1953–2021)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| caption =
| office = Central Bureau of Investigation
| order = Director of the
| term_start = {{start date|2012|12|03|df=y}}
| term_end = {{end date|2014|12|02|df=y}}
| predecessor = [[A P Singh]]
| successor = [[Anil Sinha]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|03|27|df=y}}<ref name=ir>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?lang=1&id=0,1,304,366,533,1038,1040 | title=BIO-DATA OF SHRI RANJIT SINHA, DIRECTOR GENERAL/RPF | work=Indian Railways | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Jamshedpur]], [[Bihar]], India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|4|16|1953|03|27|df=y}}
| awards = Indian Police Medal of Meritorious Service <br> President Police Medal for Distinguished Service <br> DG's commendation discs in CRPF and ITBP Force.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihar-cadre-ips-officer-ranjit-sinha-appointed-as-new-cbi-chief/306845-3.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128060029/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihar-cadre-ips-officer-ranjit-sinha-appointed-as-new-cbi-chief/306845-3.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 November 2012 | title=Bihar cadre IPS officer Ranjit Sinha appointed as new CBI chief | work=[[CNN]] | date=22 November 2012 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>
| alma_mater = [[Patna University]]<ref name=ir/> <br />[[Indian Institute of Public Administration]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/senior-ips-officer-ranjit-sinha-is-the-next-cbi-director-122257-2012-11-21 | title=Senior IPS officer Ranjit Sinha is the next CBI Director | work=[[India Today]] | date=22 November 2012 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>
| module = {{Infobox police officer
| embed = yes
| service = {{flag|India}}
| service_years = 1974–2014
| batch = 1974
}}
}}

'''Ranjit Sinha''' (27 March 1953 – 16 April 2021) was an Indian [[Indian Police Service|police]] officer<ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/ex-cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-passes-away/articleshow/82095875.cms | title=Ex-CBI Director Ranjit Sinha passes away | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=16 April 2021 | accessdate=16 April 2021}}</ref> and was the former [[Director general of police|director]] of the [[Central Bureau of Investigation]] (CBI). He was the [[Director General of Police|director general of police]] of the [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police]] (ITBP) and the director general of the [[Railway Protection Force]] before joining as the CBI director in December 2012 for a two-year tenure. He has also served in senior positions in the CBI in Patna and Delhi.

Sinha had also worked in [[Central Reserve Police Force]] as IG (Operations) in Srinagar and IG (Personnel) in Delhi. He had earlier held positions in CBI including the post of joint director and deputy inspector general. He has been associated with the investigations of a number of sensitive and important cases of national and international ramifications. He was selected based on the procedure laid down by CVC Act 2003 and had a tenure of two years. He was selected by the [[Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (India)|Appointments Committee of the Cabinet]].

In addition to his main responsibility of administering the CBI, Sinha also coordinated between different anti-corruption bureaus, the Income Tax Department, and the [[Central Vigilance Commission]] (CVC) in fighting corruption. When his appointment was announced, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] questioned the manner in which Sinha was appointed to head the Central Bureau of Investigation by the [[Indian National Congress]]-led government.

==Early life==
Sinha was born on 27 March 1953 in Jamshedpur in a [[Kayastha]] family to Madhuri and N.S. Sinha.{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}} He was one among four children with the eldest sister Sarojini Sinha married to 1968 batch [[Indian Revenue Service|Indian Revenue Service (IRS)]] officer P. K. Sinha.<ref name="ir" />{{Additional citation needed|date=April 2021}} He trained to be a geologist receiving a Master's in Science degree in Geology from the [[Patna University]] and later received a Master's Diploma in Public Administration.He has two brothers - Anand Sinha who worked as a senior management official with Tata Steel and the youngest Anjani Sinha.<ref name="ir" /> He joined the Bihar cadre of the [[Indian Police Service]] (IPS) when he was 21 years old.<ref name=express>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lalu-case-rap-only-bump-in-40yr-career-of-new-cbi-chief/1035603/ | title=Lalu case rap only bump in 40-yr career of new CBI chief | work=[[The Indian Express]] | date=24 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

==Career==
Sinha started his career with the police forces in [[Ranchi]], [[Madhubani, India|Madhubani]] and [[Saharsa district|Saharsa]] districts of Bihar where he became the superintendent of police.{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}} In this position, he dealt with communal strife, law and order issues and crime related to international border.<ref name=rediff>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ranjit-sinha-gears-up-for-second-stint-in-cbi/20121130.htm | title=Ranjit Sinha gears up for second stint in CBI | work=Rediff | date=30 November 2012 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> He was also involved in counter terror operations as the Inspector General (Operations) in the Kashmir Valley when the bus service between India and Pakistan was started in 2005,<ref name=rediff/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4416625.stm | title=Reporters' log: Kashmir bus | work=[[BBC News]] | date=7 April 2005 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> and the additional director-general of the [[Indo-Tibetan Border Police|Indo-Tibetan Border Force]].<ref name=ht>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ranjit-Sinha-to-take-over-ITBP-chief/Article1-740196.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111023344/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Ranjit-Sinha-to-take-over-ITBP-chief/Article1-740196.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 November 2013 | title=Ranjit Sinha to take over ITBP chief | work=[[The Hindustan Times]] | date=31 August 2011 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> He worked as the director general of the [[Railway Protection Force]] from 14 November 2008 to 19 May 2011,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/cbi-writes-to-railway-board-against-retired-rpf-officer-786089.html | title=CBI writes to Railway Board against retired RPF officer | work=[[First Post (India)]] | date=15 May 2013 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> where he set up commando units,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/19/stories/2009071954340500.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723081055/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/19/stories/2009071954340500.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=23 July 2009 | title=RPF to raise three commando battalions | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=19 July 2009 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/security/rpf/Files/law/orders/STANDING%20ORDER%20NO%20107.pdf | title=Standing Order No. 107| work=Indian Railways | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=56317 | title=Mamata Banerjee announces a new award to RPF personnel for serving with human face | work=PIB | date=21 December 2009 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> bomb disposal squads, quick reaction teams to protect railway stations from terror strikes after the [[2008 Mumbai attacks]].<ref name="bs">{{cite news|date=30 November 2012|title=Newsmaker: Ranjit Sinha|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/newsmaker-ranjit-sinha-112113000050_1.html|access-date=16 May 2013|work=[[Business Standard]]|last1=Varma |first1=Gyan }}</ref> After having served as the heads of the [[Railway Protection Force]] and the [[ITBP]], he was selected as the director of the [[Central Bureau of Investigation|Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)]] in November 2012.<ref name=rediff/> He had earlier served in the CBI for 11 years before being appointed its director.<ref name=ht/>

Sinha was awarded the [[Police Medal (India)|Police Medal]] for Meritorious Service in 1991 and the [[President's Police Medal]] for Distinguished Service in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 April 2021|title=Ex-CBI director Sinha dies a day after testing Covid-19 positive|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/former-cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-passes-away-in-delhi-101618550893977.html|access-date=19 April 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

===Appointment as CBI chief===
The prime minister of India chose Ranjit Sinha as the CBI chief over Sharad Sinha, the director, [[National Investigation Agency]] and Atul, director general, [[Uttar Pradesh Police|Uttar Pradesh]] who were recommended by the CVC as he was senior to the other two.{{Citation needed|date= July 2022}} However, the [[Bhartiya Janata Party]] objected to his appointment, protesting that the Government had not followed the collegium system that it had approved and that was part of the [[Jan Lokpal Bill|Lokpal Bill]] which was waiting to be passed by the [[Parliament of India|Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-objects-to-sinha-being-new-cbi-chief/article4126469.ece | title=BJP objects to Sinha being new CBI chief | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=23 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/row-over-cbi-director-s-appointment-bjp-writes-to-prime-minister-296306 | title=Row over CBI director's appointment; BJP writes to Prime Minister | work=[[NDTV]] | date=23 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013 | author=Sanyal, Prasad}}</ref> The director general of [[Delhi Police]], Neeraj Kumar, who had brilliantly cracked important cases during his 9 years in the CBI, went to court against the non inclusion of his name in the panel prepared by the CVC, but later withdrew his case.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-11-28/news/35409067_1_cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-ips-officer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331114032/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-11-28/news/35409067_1_cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-ips-officer | url-status=dead | archive-date=31 March 2014 | title=Ram Jethmalani drags in Arun Jaitley into top cops CAT fight | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=28 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-23/india/35318536_1_cbi-inspector-s-c-sinha-uttar-pradesh-atul | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828202905/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-23/india/35318536_1_cbi-inspector-s-c-sinha-uttar-pradesh-atul | url-status=dead | archive-date=28 August 2013 | title=ITBP DG Ranjit Sinha to be new CBI chief | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=23 November 2012 | access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref>

==Controversies and allegations==
===The Fodder Scam case===
In 1996, as a DIG in the CBI under the Joint Director (East), UN Biswas, he was accused of scuttling the investigation to help protect the accused, [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]] in the [[Fodder Scam]] case. UN Biswas was the chief investigator into the case, whose progress was being monitored by the [[Patna High Court]], and was asked by the court to file a report on the case. The original harsh report by Biswas was swapped with a toned down one authored by Sinha by the then Director CBI, Joginder Singh and submitted to the court. When the court asked why the submitted report did not carry details of the original charges, Biswas admitted before the court that the report had been changed by the CBI Director and that the original report was more damaging. The court indicted the CBI and ordered that Sinha be removed from the case. Later, Sinha, Biswas and other CBI officers apologized to the Privilege Committee Council of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, which decided to drop privilege proceedings against them for lodging a complaint against them to the High Court. Earlier, his father-in-law as the Director General Vigilance was accused of scuttling initial investigations into the [[Fodder Scam]] but the accusations could not be substantiated. Sinha was then posted to Bihar Bhawan in New Delhi against a specially created post by Lalu Yadav.<ref name=express/><ref name=deccan>{{cite web | url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294048/director-almost-exonerated-lalu.html | title=New director almost exonerated Lalu | publisher=[[Deccan Herald]] | work=Nov 23, 2012 | date=24 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{cite web|title=Sinha's fodder probe questioned|url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/sinhas-fodder-probe-questioned|access-date=14 May 2013|work=4 May 2013|publisher=[[The Guardian]]|archive-date=13 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113062503/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/news/sinhas-fodder-probe-questioned|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="niti">{{cite web | url=http://www.niticentral.com/2013/04/27/a-cbi-directors-shady-past-71152.html | title=A CBI Director's shady past | date=27 April 2013 | access-date=14 May 2013 | author=Dutta, Priyadarshi | archive-date=1 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601134202/http://www.niticentral.com/2013/04/27/a-cbi-directors-shady-past-71152.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="tehelka">{{cite web | url=http://tehelka.com/enough-fodder-on-sinhas-past/ | title=Enough fodder on Sinha's past | work=[[Tehelka]] | date=30 November 2012 | access-date=14 May 2013 | archive-date=13 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513062906/http://tehelka.com/enough-fodder-on-sinhas-past/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-accidental-hero-or-insecure-careerist-743937.html | title=CBI director Ranjit Sinha: Accidental hero or insecure careerist? | work=[[First Post (India)]] | date=1 May 2013 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/cbi-blasted-for-scuttling-fodder-scam-probe-196100501120_1.html | title=Cbi Blasted For Scuttling Fodder Scam Probe | work=[[Business Standard]] | date=5 October 1996 | access-date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="Brahmachary2004">{{cite book|author=K.C. Brahmachary|title=We And Our Administration|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RfdtUUnVQLQC&pg=PA84|access-date=14 May 2013|year=2004|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-916-4|page=84}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cbi-chief-served-showcause-in-fodder-scam-197032901100_1.html | title=Cbi Chief Served Showcause In Fodder Scam | work=[[Business Standard]] | date=29 March 1997 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Modi-urges-removal-of-tainted-police-officers/articleshow/1887595037.cms | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629121444/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-07-21/patna/27249098_1_fodder-scam-cbi-officer-laloo | url-status=live | archive-date=29 June 2013 | title=Modi urges removal of 'tainted' police officers | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=21 July 2001 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.financialexpress.com/old/ie/daily/19970607/15850253.html | title=Privilege move against CBI in fodder scam dropped | work=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]] |location=India | date=7 June 1997 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>

After taking over as the CBI Director, he transferred out four crucial officers investigating the Fodder Scam after obtaining consent of the Jharkhand High Court, but the orders were later cancelled by the Supreme Court of India following filing of a PIL.<ref name=guardian/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-stays-transfer-of-scam-probe-officers/1110294/ | title=SC stays transfer of scam probe officers | work=[[Indian Express]] | date=2 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>

===Problems with Mamata Banerjee===
As the head of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Sinha objected to [[Mamata Banerjee]] continuing to be provided protection by the RPF commandos, even after she quit as the [[Minister of Railways (India)|Railway minister]] and became the [[List of Chief Ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]]. Banerjee did not take to these objections kindly and got Sinha replaced as the RPF head in May 2011. He was posted in September 2011 as the director general of the ITBP.<ref name=rediff/>

He admitted to the controversy, stating:

{{centered pull quote|First of all I completed my tenure in the RPF on 19 May 2011 and Mamata Banerjee became West Bengal chief minister on 20 May 2011. So I remained in the RPF till Mamata Banerjee was the railway minister. But I had my share of problems. Mamata wanted Bangla to be one of the languages for the exam for recruitment the RPF constables. She didn’t like when I said according to rules only Hindi and English are recognised languages for the exam. Besides, she employed RPF guards for her security during election campaign in West Bengal. I was ticked by the MHA as it was not part of the RPF mandate. I showed the temerity to tell her that also.<ref name=HT15May/>}}

===Coalgate Draft Report controversy===
April 2013, on the behest of the [[Supreme Court of India]], as the CBI director, he submitted an affidavit stating that the draft investigative report on the [[Indian coal allocation scam]] was vetted by the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Law minister]] [[Ashwani Kumar (politician)|Ashwani Kumar]] before it was submitted to the court.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/shared-coal-status-report-with-law-minister-cbi-chief-tells-sc/1108326/|title=Coal-Gate: Affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by CBI Director|date=26 April 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=26 April 2013}}</ref> There was widespread outrage in India on this issue as it undermined the autonomy of the CBI. Observing this the Supreme Court scathingly criticized the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] government, for its meddling with the report, and the CBI, for behaving like a ''caged parrot that speaks in its master's voice''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cbi-has-become-a-caged-parrot-with-many-masters-says-supreme-court-162209-2013-05-07 |title=CBI has become a caged parrot with many masters. What a sordid story, says Supreme Court : India, News - India Today |date=8 May 2013 |publisher=Indiatoday.intoday.in |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> Sinha has confirmed the comments of the Supreme Court as being correct.<ref>{{cite web|author=PTI |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/whatever-sc-says-is-correct-cbi-chief/article4698712.ece |title=Whatever SC says is correct: CBI chief |work=The Hindu |date=5 May 2013 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-03/india/35569650_1_ranjit-sinha-cbi-director-senior-ips |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411033948/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-03/india/35569650_1_ranjit-sinha-cbi-director-senior-ips |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 April 2013 |title=Ranjit Sinha takes over as CBI director |date=3 December 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-23/india/35318536_1_cbi-inspector-s-c-sinha-uttar-pradesh-atul |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828202905/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-23/india/35318536_1_cbi-inspector-s-c-sinha-uttar-pradesh-atul |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 August 2013 |title=ITBP DG Ranjit Sinha to be new CBI chief |date=23 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbi.nic.in/pressreleases/pr_2012-12-03-1.php |title=Central Bureau Of Investigation |publisher=Cbi.nic.in |access-date=22 April 2013 |archive-date=10 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210215933/http://cbi.nic.in/pressreleases/pr_2012-12-03-1.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/ranjit-sinha-s-statement-on-taking-over-as-the-new-cbi-director-300437 |title=Ranjit Sinha's statement on taking over as the new CBI Director |publisher=NDTV.com |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/ranjit-sinha-senior-ips-officer-took-over-as-cbi-director-1354610290-1 |title=Ranjit Sinha, Senior IPS Officer Took Over As CBI Director |date=4 December 2012 |publisher=Jagranjosh.com |access-date=22 April 2013}}</ref>

As a fallout, [[Ashwani Kumar (politician)|Ashwani Kumar]] was sacked as the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Minister of Law and Justice]]. On 6 May 2013, the Supreme Court asked the government to bring a law before 10 July 2013 to "insulate the CBI from external influence and intrusion". Hurriedly, the government set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) under the [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance minister]] [[P. Chidambaram]] to work on the details for implementing the court's order. Sinha appreciated the court's order and stated that he had become a "catalyst of sorts" in making CBI autonomous.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://english.samaylive.com/nation-news/676529824/cbi-chief-ranjit-sinha-welcomes-moves-to-free-agency-from-extern.html|title=CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha welcomes moves to free agency from external influence|access-date=16 May 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Autonomy-must-come-with-a-rider-Ranjit-Sinha/Article1-1060660.aspx | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629105218/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Autonomy-must-come-with-a-rider-Ranjit-Sinha/Article1-1060660.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 June 2013 | title=Autonomy must come with a rider: Ranjit Sinha | work=[[The Hindustan Times]] | date=15 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> He also said that ''it is a lifetime opportunity'' for him to try to improve the working of the CBI.<ref name="HT15May">{{cite news | url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Talks-of-autonomy-a-lifetime-opportunity-for-CBI-Ranjit-Sinha/Article1-1060603.aspx | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629111444/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Talks-of-autonomy-a-lifetime-opportunity-for-CBI-Ranjit-Sinha/Article1-1060603.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date=29 June 2013 | title=Things have turned worse in 39 years of my service | work=[[Hindustan Times]] | date=15 May 2013 | access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>

===The Rail bribery case===
In 2013, the CBI busted a [[Railway bribery scam|cash-for-posts scandal]] in the Indian Railways that led to the resignation of [[Pawan Kumar Bansal]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323744604578474810700867592 | title=India Railway Minister Resigns | work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=10 May 2013 | access-date=10 May 2013}}</ref> However, it was also reported that Sinha had held a grudge against Mahesh Kumar, and ordered his phone to be tapped that led to the case being busted.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/buzzword/mahesh-kumar-complained-about-ranjit-sinha | title=Mahesh Kumar complained about Ranjit Sinha | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=11 May 2013 | access-date=14 May 2013 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203024516/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/buzzword/mahesh-kumar-complained-about-ranjit-sinha | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/collateral-clean-up | title=Collateral Clean-Up | work=[[OPEN (Indian magazine)]] | date=18 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>

Sinha appreciated the work by his sleuths stating that they just had the slightest of leads and were able to crack the case.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/cbi-ranjit-sinha-five-government-entities-coalgate-railgraft-supreme-court-162428-2013-05-10 | title=CBI chief Ranjit Sinha's roadmap to unshackle agency from five govt entities | work=[[India Today]] | date=10 May 2013 | access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref> Later, Sinha declared that there was no evidence linking the minister to the scam,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/rail-bribe-case-no-evidence-against-bansal-yet-says-cbi-chief-783451.html | title=Rail bribe case: No evidence against Bansal yet, says CBI chief | work=[[First Post (India)]] | date=15 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/railway-bribery-case-cbi-director-claims-no-evidence-against-pawan-bansal-419065-2013-05-14 | title=No evidence against Pawan Bansal in Railway bribery case: CBI | work=[[Headlines Today]] | date=15 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> which was protested against by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bjp-objects-to-cbi-chief-ranjit-sinhas-clean-chit-to-p-k-bansal/articleshow/20088146.cms | title=BJP objects to CBI chief Ranjit Sinha's clean chit to P K Bansal | date=16 May 2013 | work=[[The Economic Times]] | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref> Sinha ordered a fresh review of all high-level appointments and high-value contracts during the tenures of railway ministers from Mamata Banerjee to Pawan Kumar Bansal.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news/39256035_1_railway-ministry-cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-rpf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703221114/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-14/news/39256035_1_railway-ministry-cbi-director-ranjit-sinha-rpf | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 July 2014 | title=Scrutinising all major appointments in the railway ministry: CBI Director | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=14 May 2013 | access-date=19 May 2013}}</ref>

The railway police association accused Sinha of having a grudge against all railway officials who had complained against him to the [[Central Vigilance Commission]] regarding his corrupt ways when he was the director general of the Railway Protection Force. This was however, refuted by the CBI.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-16/india/39309289_1_ranjit-sinha-cbi-director-railway-minister | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608220714/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-16/india/39309289_1_ranjit-sinha-cbi-director-railway-minister | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 June 2013 | title=CBI chief Ranjit Sinha under fire for 'acting out of vendetta' | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=16 May 2013 | access-date=16 May 2013}}</ref>

Talking about the charges by the railway police association, he has defended himself by stating:

{{centered pull quote|I had taken on vested interest in the RPF. They came up with a booklet leveling all sorts of allegations against me but the union home ministry didn’t find anything against me. I raised objections on retired officials serving in the association. One of my subordinates also became part of the problem and circulated lots of rubbish about me.<ref name=HT15May/>}}

===Political links===
He was seen to be close to [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], the [[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] supremo, who kept the post of the director general of the [[Railway Protection Force]] unfilled for three months till Sinha was appointed to the post.<ref name=express/> He also accepted that he was friends with Yadav, stating that Lalu was his boss both in the state of Bihar and the Indian Railways and hence, they have good interpersonal relations.<ref name="HT15May" /> He defended himself stating:

{{centered pull quote|I had asked the CBI headquarter to post me outside of Patna. Being a Bihar cadre officer I didn’t want to get associated with fodder scam probe. But nobody listened to me. It was very confusing time. The centre was weak and Lalu was a powerful regional satrap. Bihar was totally divided on the caste lines. I was made a villain by my powerful enemies in the state despite the monitoring bench of the Patna high court not even once making an adverse remark against me. I still believe things went little overboard during the investigation in the fodder scam due to some seniors who assiduously cultivated larger than life image.<ref name=HT15May/>}}

== Personal life and death==
Sinha was married to Reena, daughter of IPS officer, Gajendra Narain. He had one daughter and one son;<ref name="deccan" /><ref name="guardian" /> his daughter is married to Awanish Sharan, an [[Indian Administrative Service|Indian Administrative Service (IAS)]] officer, Chhattisgarh cadre, and his son is in Delhi after pursuing law in the Netherlands.<ref name="bs" />

Sinha died on 16 April 2021 in Delhi, at the age of 68. He had previously been diagnosed with [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ranjit Sinha, Former CBI Chief, Dies At 68. He Was Covid Positive|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ranjit-sinha-former-cbi-chief-dies-at-68-2414850|access-date=17 April 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/ranjit-sinha-indias-police-enforcer-in-the-dock-over-alleged-corruption-9732489.html "Ranjit Sinha: India's police enforcer in the dock over alleged corruption"] by ''[[The Independent]]'' (London) newspaper

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sinha, Ranjit}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Bihar cadre civil servants]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in India]]
[[Category:Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation]]
[[Category:Indian police chiefs]]
[[Category:Patna University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Bihar]]
[[Category:People from Jamshedpur]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Indo-Tibetan Border Police]]

Ranjit Sinha - Revision history

Nisha Lakra: done