SPP statements on Talabira were his independent views: Sinha

Standing by CBI closure report in Talabira coal block allocation, agency chief Ranjit Sinha today said the views expressed by Special Public Prosecutor R S Cheema that there was evidence against Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary PC Parakh are his "independent" views.
Sinha said there was no briefing on the part of CBI to Cheema and whatever he said in the court were his own views.
The CBI Director said Cheema is appointed by the Supreme Court and is independent to express his opinion. The agency will follow whatever will be the directions of the court in the matter, he told reporters here.

The agency had filed a closure report in the allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks involving industrialist Birla, Parakh and others.
The FIR against Birla, Parakh and others was registered in October last year by CBI which had alleged that Parakh had reversed his decision to reject coal block allocation to Hindalco within months "without any valid basis or change in circumstances" and shown "undue favours".
The FIR relates to allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks in 2005.

During a hearing before the Special Court here, Cheema submitted that there was prima facie "evidence against the accused to show their involvement".

"SPP states that under the facts and circumstances of the case, prima facie there is enough material to take cognizance of the offences against private parties and some of the government officials involved in the process of coal blocks allocation. Put up for consideration on the closure report on November 25," the judge had said.
During the hearing, Cheema had said, "We are asking for cognisance on the closure report as there was evidence against the accused to show their involvement."
On October 21, CBI had filed a "detailed and comprehensive" revised final closure report before the court in the case.