Coalgate: Massive breach of trust, says SC
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday termed the sharing of the draft probe report on the allocation of coal blocks by the CBI as a “massive breach of trust (that) has shaken our foundation.”
Hearing the case relating to the issue of sharing of the draft report by the CBI with the political executive (Law Minister Ashwani Kumar), the court said, “There are very disturbing features in the CBI affidavit. Why were we kept in dark on sharing of coal probe report.”
These were the initial comments that came in as the court took up the hearing.
Following these comments, the BJP stepped up its pressure for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation.
A worried government is trying all its options to defend Ashwani Kumar because if the Law Minister quits, the Prime Minister will be the next target of the BJP. Singh met attorney general (AG) G.E. Vahanvati over the weekend to discuss the government's strategy on the coalgate scam.
The meeting took place after a major controversy erupted over Ashwani Kumar meeting CBI director Ranjit Sinha and vetting the CBI status report on coalgate scam submitted to the Supreme Court. The development infuriated the opposition parties, who launched a scathing attack on the government by demanding the resignations of the prime minister and law minister. They have placed it as one of the conditions for smooth functioning of Parliament.
Government sources said that Singh met the attorney general to discuss the government’s defence in case the apex court gives an adverse observation on the CBI report. The government is trying to protect the Prime Minister by taking a stand that he was not directly involved in vetting of the CBI report, it is learnt.
The CBI last week admitted that its report on coal investigation was seen by the law minister and a senior bureaucrat each from the Prime Minister's Office and coal ministry before the document was submitted before the apex court.
Over the last few days, the Opposition has been alleging that the CBI's admission before the court is evidence that the government is trying to influence the investigation to protect the Prime Minister, who held direct charge of the coal ministry for some of the years which fall under scrutiny. The government has already rejected the Opposition demand.
Meanwhile, another controversy erupted full force when additional solicitor general Harin Raval wrote an explosive letter to attorney general G.E.Vahanvati, accusing him of trying to influence the agency’s probe into this and other cases.
Raval says that he is being made a “scapegoat”.
He also provided a detailed breakdown of a meeting held last month where law minister Ashwani Kumar allegedly asked for changes to be made to the CBI report that was then presented to the SC.
He also narrates how he got an SMS from the attorney general to come to the law minister’s office with the status report.
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