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CBI a ‘caged parrot’, ‘heart’ of Coalgate report changed: SC

After the Supreme Court came down heavily on the CBI over the probe into the coal block allocation scam, sources in the Congress indicated that the top brass would most likely drop union law minister Ashwani Kumar and railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal from the cabinet by next week.

According to sources, Congress president Sonia Gandhi indicated that with party’s image being affected due to the recent string of scams, Kumar and Bansal should resign. Gandhi also indicated that after the Congress’ victory in Karnataka they should strive to have a corruption-free government.

The SC on Wednesday slammed officials of the PMO and coal ministry with whom the CBI had shared the status report filed in the apex court in the coal block allocation case. The court said that ‘the heart of the report was changed on the suggestions of the government officials.’ A bench of Justice R M Lodha, Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph also pulled up the CBI for allowing these officials to see the report and make changes suggested by them. It also questioned the credibility of the CBI probe. It said that the job of the CBI is not to interact with government officials but to interrogate to find the truth and CBI ‘must know how to stand up against all pulls and pressures by government and its officials.’ The SC lashed out at the CBI, calling it a caged parrot that was speaking its master’s voice. ‘It’s a sordid saga that there are many masters and one parrot,’ the bench said. The apex court said it needs to be ensured that the CBI functions free of all external pressures and said if the agency is not made independent, the court will step in.

The court has directed the CBI not to share any report pertaining to the investigation in the coal blocks allocation scam with any officials or ministers other than those in its 33-member investigation team and the CBI director. The SC also directed that former CBI DIG Ravi Kant, investigating officer in the case, to resume charge. Ravi Kant was recently shifted to the Intelligence Bureau. On this, the CBI said that they will look into the matter. The case will be heard in July.
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