SC slams CBI for sharing information on coal scam with govt

Says its first step now would be to liberate CBI from political interference

Slamming the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for sharing the coal scam investigation report with the government, the Supreme Court today said the move has shaken the entire process and its first step now would be to liberate CBI from political interference.

CBI’s independent position must be restored, said the apex court while instructing that there is no need for the CBI to take instructions from political masters.

CBI had filed an affidavit in the apex court on Friday saying that the agency shared the status report on coal investigation with the Prime Minister's Office, law ministry and coal ministry before submitting it in the court on March 8.

CBI director Ranjit Sinha had told the apex court that the report was shared with the law minister Ashwani Kumar as desired by him along with joint secretary level officers of the PMO.

The apex court also directed the CBI chief to clarify by May 6 as to why in the status report of Mar 8 no disclosure was made that draft report has been shared with Government.

He was also asked to give details of the investigating team including CVs of DIGs/ SPs handling the probe in the coal allocation case and to spell out the procedure being followed by CBI under guidelines on sharing status report on ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, ASG Haren Raval replaced by senior advocate U U Lalit to represent CBI in the case.