CBI opposes amicus curiae in coal scam

Says such a move would blur the thin line between the monitoring and the supervision of the investigation

The CBI Tuesday opposed a Supreme Court move to appoint an amicus curiae to assist it in giving an objective view of the status report filed by it into alleged irregularities in coal block allocations.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the apex court bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha that such a move would blur the thin line between the monitoring and the supervision of the investigation, and would compromise the independence of its probe.

Meanwhile, the court has issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on a petition by NGO Common Cause seeking investigation into the proceeds of the crime that was generated in the coal scam.

The court notice was issued after counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, said that after the CBI comes to the conclusion that an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act has taken place, then it is incumbent upon ED to investigate as to what has happened to the proceeds of the crime.