The recommendation is the seventh in a little over eight months since Mayawati was sworn-in as Chief Minister on May 13. Except the case of Noida plot allotments, the CBI is not investigating any.

Nevertheless, Mayawati decided to refer the latest issue to the CBI. “Since the case involves some senior police officers and politicians, we would not like people to raise questions about our government functioning with political vendetta,” she said.

She has, in fact, given the same reason for every case that was referred to the CBI.

The latest move came shortly after a three-member committee led by Chief Secretary PK Mishra which investigated the case, recommended a CBI probe. The report - placed before the state cabinet today - recommended that the CBI should look into the complaints of sexual abuse of women recruits and put behind bars the “big names” involved.

The CM named no names in her media conference. The press releases issued by her office mentioned that “the then PWD minister, a special secretary to Chief Minister, the then two DGPs and one ADG were prima facie found engaged in large-scale corruption and case of bribery”.

Former PWD minister Shivpal Singh rubbished Mayawati's allegations, terming her “the most dishonest and corrupt chief minister.”