New Delhi : CBI Director Ranjit Sinha has landed himself in a massive controversy by comparing the legalizing of betting in sports to ‘enjoying rape’.

India’s top investigator was at a panel discussion in Delhi on Tuesday evening, trying to argue that betting should be legalised, when he drew the bizarre analogy, “If you can’t prevent rape, enjoy it.”

Mr Sinha used the comment to illustrate that it was difficult and pointless to enforce a ban on betting. (watch CBI’s chief’s comment)

He tried to explain later that he “just used a proverb to make a point,” but his use of the word ‘proverb’ for the distasteful comment did nothing to stop the deluge of outrage from across the nation.

Late on Tuesday night, a CBI spokesperson issued another clarification on behalf of Mr Sinha.

“The context was an opinion on legalising betting by Shekhar Gupta who was moderating the session. A voice vote was taken from Ravi Sawani and then Rahul Dravid and the Director, CBI made a point that if laws cannot be enforced, that does not mean that laws should not be there,” the spokesperson said.

CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said the CBI director should be prosecuted. “If the CBI director can trivialize rape, it gives a very wrong message. He has no right to continue in office,” she said.

The CBI chief’s epic blunder has inflamed the social media at a time the nation’s rape debate – triggered by the horrific gang-rape of a medical student in a moving bus in Delhi last December – has been dominated by calls for sweeping changes not just in laws but in mindsets.

“Unbelievable!” tweeted noted Bangladesh writer Taslima Nasreen. Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi commented that the CBI director should issue a public apology.

“After CBI boss Ranjit Sinha’s advice on enjoying rape when it’s inevitable, one wonders if we’re better off with the parrot caged and gagged,” tweeted Abhijit Majumder.

Activists say the comments are reprehensible coming from a top officer who investigates criminal cases. “It has become a habit of people in senior positions to treat the issue of sexual assault lightly,” said Ranjana Kumari of the Centre for Social Research.