The principal opposition party, BJP has demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam .

The UPA government had dismissed the demand but few leaders like urban development minister Jaipal Reddy have stated that since the whole process was transparent there is no reason that the government should shy away from a JPC probe.

The government has claimed that there are multiple authorities - income tax department, directorate of enforcement (ED), chief vigilance commission (CVC), controller and auditor general (CAG), central bureau of investigation (CBI) - are already investigating the matter. ]

It  has also ordered an inquiry under V K Shunglu, the former CAG. This, howver, appears questionable as the current CAG supported by his complete team is already probing the issue. It remains to be seen what the former CAG will dig out which the current CAG cannot.

It appears that the government is bringing multiple agencies to investigate the CWG mess in a similar manner as it appointed multiple agencies to implement the CWG projects (DDA, MoUD, Delhi Govt, NDMC, OC, MCD, MHA) . The whole exercise of appointing former CAG for inquiry appears to be eyewash by the government.

But is a JPC a solution to this investigation?

The JPCs in the past like the one investigating the  Harshad Mehta scam hardly delivered.

There is also a possible conflict of interest when a group of polticians investigate the involvement of some of their peers in thhe scam.

But all agensies probing the mess are under the central government which is also being blamed for the mess. Thus, there  is a huge question over the credibility of the probes.

Does this make a JPC investigation imperative to ensure impartial probes to indict the guilty?

Therefore the question, should there be a JPC probe into the CWG scam?