CVC pleads SC to allow him to withdraw from coal scam cases

Pradeep Kumar submitted his plea that he be allowed to withdraw from the cases as he had worked with the coal ministry as a joint secretary between 2003-06

CVC Pradeep Kumar, who along with other two vigilance commissioners was asked by the Supreme Court to assist it in monitoring coal blocks allocation scam probe, today pleaded for his withdrawal from the cases.

The Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) submitted before a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha that he be allowed to withdraw from the cases as he had worked with the coal ministry as a joint secretary between 2003-06.

The apex court said that it would consider the plea made by CVC when the special bench, which is hearing coalgate cases, assembles.

The court had on March 28 sought assistance of CVC to examine all cases in coal blocks allocation scam in which there were divergent views between the investigating officer and CBI's head office on filing charge sheets.

It had asked CVC and two vigilance commissioners to give their suggestions whether the cases can be closed or CBI can go ahead with the filing of charge sheets in them.

The apex court had passed the order after it was informed that the agency had filed closure reports in two cases despite there being difference of opinion among CBI officials.

CBI had informed the court that there were till date 20 such cases where officers had differed on what further action needed to be taken.

The court had directed the agency to place the documents of all 20 cases within five days before CVC for its perusal and the corruption watchdog was asked to file its report in four weeks.

It had said CVC, along with other two vigilance commissioners, will examine the documents and file their report in a sealed envelope on what should be done in those cases.

DIG Ravi Kant Sharma, who supervises the coal scam probe, along with other two officers of the same rank, had said that the investigating officer (IO) had opined to close one of the cases which was rejected by him but his officers approved the opinion of IO after which closure report was filed.