Coal scam: D. Raja asks UPA Ministers not to interfere in CBI's working

Asserting that all are equal before the law, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Thursday said there should be no political interfere in the working of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking into note the allegation that the foremost investigating agency is used or abused by those who are in power.

Reacting to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma's concerns over the CBI filing FIR against industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla in the coal scam case, Raja said the ministers may hold personal views, but they should restrain from making such public statements.

"All are equal before law and law must be applied equally to every citizen of this country. The investigations must take place according to law whether he is an ordinary citizen, whether he is a corporate representative; it doesn't make any difference for law, all are equal before law. If there is anything wrong done by a corporate representative, it has to be investigated. If anything wrong is done by an ordinary citizen, it has to be investigated," he added.

The CPI leader further said the coal scam is a case being monitored by the Supreme Court.

"The CBI has taken up investigation. On the basis of available evidence, the CBI must have filed FIR against one particular corporate house or particular individuals. It is for CBI to explain on what basis they are filing the FIRs. Why to interfere in the work of CBI? Already there is an allegation that CBI is used or abused by those who are in power. Why to interfere in the work of CBI?" he said.

Sharma, who yesterday came out in support of business leader Kumar Manglam Birla, urged the government agencies to not play to the gallery and create an environment of sensation and shock.

The Commerce and Industry Minister's support for Birla came a day after the CBI filed an FIR against him in the coal blocks allotment scandal.

The CBI earlier on Tuesday filed FIRs against Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Union Coal Secretary Prakash Chandra Parakh for alleged irregularities and criminal conspiracy in allocation of two coal blocks in Orissa in 2005.

The BJP has held the Prime Minister responsible and demanded his resignation for an estimated loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crores to the national exchequer by the CAG in connection with the coal block allocation.

The CAG report does not indict the Prime Minister or his office, but the BJP is emphasizing that the Prime Minister held direct charge of the coal ministry for the years under scrutiny.