Coalscam: Court pulls up CBI for delay in conducting probe

A special court today pulled up the CBI for "sitting over" and delaying further investigation in a coal blocks allocation scam case and directed it to expedite the ongoing probe.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar observed this after the agency sought more time to complete its ongoing investigation in the case pertaining to allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to Vikash Metal and Power Ltd (VMPL).
While seeking time to conclude the probe, CBI prosecutor told the court that since the investigation officer of the case was probing another coal blocks allocation scam case, he should be given more time to complete probe in this case.

"You (CBI) are sitting over the matter. Order for further investigation was passed on October 15, 2014 and over three months have gone by," the court said, adding, "This is not done. You cannot delay the proceedings just because you are investigating other cases."
During the hearing, the CBI informed the court that they have examined seven additional witnesses during its probe.
However, the judge observed, "If you are doing so much in further investigation that means you have not done anything in your earlier investigation."

"What is this? You (CBI) should be objective as to what you want to achieve. What is the objective you want to achieve by examining these new witnesses?," the court said.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on February 20 and said it might hear the case on a daily basis from the next date of hearing.
"You cannot take so much time. There should be a system. You cannot put on hold these cases in the name of conducting new investigation," the judge said.
Meanwhile, the CBI filed the progress report of its probe into the case.