Govt seeks to downplay storm over Raval's letter to AG

Government today sought to downplay the political storm created by Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval's letter accusing Attorney General G E Vahanvati of trying to interfere in CBI's probe report on coal scam.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said there could have been "differences", which is "natural" and Government has nothing to "cover".

The additional solicitor general's letter came as controversy raged over whether the government tried to influence CBI probe into the coal scam.

"Whatever the truth is will come out in probe. No need to comment on an ongoing investigation. Government is not in any difficulty. Because we don't have to cover anything," he said.

In his letter to the AG, Raval had reportedly said he had been made a "scapegoat" in the matter.

Raval made the claim in a letter to Vahanvati in which he is reported to have accused the latter of trying to interfere in CBI's probe report.

The accusation by Raval came ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing which has taken on record CBI Director Ranjit Sinha's affidavit and the agency's status report on the coal blocks allocation probe that was shared with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Joint Secretary-level officials of the Prime Minister's Office(PMO) and Coal ministry.

Raval, whose submission to the apex court while appearing for CBI was contradicted by Sinha's affidavit, claimed that Vahanvati was involved in the stand to be taken by the CBI and that he was being made a "scapegoat".