CVC Pradeep Kumar recuses himself from coal scam cases

SC had asked CVC to examine 20 cases in the scam

Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar has sought leave to withdraw from the coal scam enquiry ordered by the Supreme Court.

This is because he was joint secretary in the coal ministry between 2003 and 2006, senior counsel Anil Divan told the bench headed by Justice R M Lodha in the morning today. The other two members will continue with the work assigned by the court.

The court asked counsel to file a formal application for Kumar’s withdrawal.

Last week, the court had asked the CVC to examine 20 cases where preliminary enquiries into the coal block allocations were closed amidst differences between the investigating officers and the top brass.

Common Cause lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, had alleged last week that though the investigators found sufficient ground to prosecute persons for corruption, the higher officers vetoed the move. This was suspect and therefore the case files must be examined by the CVC, which was established to act as an independent agency. The court therefore asked the CVC to examine the cases.

It had also directed the CBI to share the files on the 20 cases with the CVC. It has further called for a status report on the CVC’s report at the next hearing.