Coal scam: CBI's investigating officer taken to task by court

A CBI investigating officer (IO) in a coal scam case was taken to task by a special court today for not making efforts to supply documents to the accused, with the judge castigating him for "making a mockery" of the system and asking him why cost should not be imposed on him.
The court's stricture came after some of the accused complained that copies supplied to them were illegible and on all the papers, a stamp was put by the IO that photocopies were not legible and original records may be inspected.
"This court has personally seen some of the papers so supplied and upon comparing with the originals, it is found that no proper efforts have been made in obtaining photocopies of the said documents and the stamp of photocopy being not clear have been put in a routine fashion," Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar said.

"You (IO) explain as to what were the circumstances beyond your control which neccessitated adjournment of the proceeding today, that too due to your act. You explain why cost should not be imposed upon you. You cannot blow both hot and cold," the judge told the IO.
During the hearing, IO also moved a plea for removal of the name of Vishwas Sawakhande, who has been summoned as accused, from the list of witnesses filed along with the charge sheet.
The court then asked the IO "have you supplied the copy of Sawakhande's statement to the accused?"

After the IO replied in the affirmative, the judge said, "this is very strange as copies of the documents were supplied after summoning order was passed by this court and IO was aware that Vishwas Sawakhande has been summoned as an accused by this court. IO is directed to submit his explanation in this regard in writing."

The court also asked why the statement was supplied to the accused when the IO was not supposed to do so.
Thereafter, the IO submitted a written explanation in the court which perused it and observed, "You have not given any explanation as to why cost should not be imposed upon you. All this is happening because you have not paid any attention to the work which you should have done properly."
On the issue of supply of documents to accused, the court told the IO, "You are making a mockery of the system."
Significantly, at the fag end of the day's hearing, a senior CBI official appeared in the court and assured the judge that such thing would not be repeated in future.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Lohara (East) coal block in Maharashtra to Nagpur-based accused firm Grace Industries Ltd (GIL).