NGO moves SC, seeks SIT probe in coalgate case
16 April 2013 1:06 AM GMT
NGO Common Cause on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking an SIT probe into alleged blatant interference by the central government into the CBI probe of the coal block allocation scam.
It alleged that law officers of the government attempted to mislead the court by stating that they had not seen the status report, when the same had been shown to them by the CBI.
The NGO alleged that the CBI was not fit to probe the scam as the agency at the instance of the government has changed and diluted a status report which it was to file before the apex court.
In its interim application, NGO submitted that the alleged blatant interference by the government is not only unlawful and a criminal offence, it amounts to contempt of court and the same has to be probed by a special investigative team (SIT).
‘The blatant interference by the Government in the CBI investigation is not only unlawful and a criminal offence, but it also amounts to contempt of court. A status report which was to be filed in this Hon’ble Court was changed and diluted at the instance of the Government which had no business in influencing the investigation (especially when it is itself the subject matter of investigation). The law officers of the said Government then attempted to mislead this court on 12 March’s hearing. The actions of the law minister, PMO officials and others therefore clearly amount to criminal contempt of the court,’ said the application filed through counsel Prashant Bhushan.
The NGO said that appointing a retired judge to head the SIT would help the court to monitor the case and add to the credibility of the probe by insulating it from political and corporate influences.
It alleged that law officers of the government attempted to mislead the court by stating that they had not seen the status report, when the same had been shown to them by the CBI.
The NGO alleged that the CBI was not fit to probe the scam as the agency at the instance of the government has changed and diluted a status report which it was to file before the apex court.
In its interim application, NGO submitted that the alleged blatant interference by the government is not only unlawful and a criminal offence, it amounts to contempt of court and the same has to be probed by a special investigative team (SIT).
‘The blatant interference by the Government in the CBI investigation is not only unlawful and a criminal offence, but it also amounts to contempt of court. A status report which was to be filed in this Hon’ble Court was changed and diluted at the instance of the Government which had no business in influencing the investigation (especially when it is itself the subject matter of investigation). The law officers of the said Government then attempted to mislead this court on 12 March’s hearing. The actions of the law minister, PMO officials and others therefore clearly amount to criminal contempt of the court,’ said the application filed through counsel Prashant Bhushan.
The NGO said that appointing a retired judge to head the SIT would help the court to monitor the case and add to the credibility of the probe by insulating it from political and corporate influences.
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