NEW DELHI: The CBI on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that it was facing difficulty in functioning as an independent investigating agency.

The premier investigating agency said that it was functioning under a stranglehold of bureaucrats, during a hearing related to the coal scam .

The agency told the apex court that its proposals are often returned with 20 objections noted by a head clerk in the department.

It sought that CBI director 's proposals be routed directly to the minister in charge of the department of personnel and training.

