The panel was formed in 2015 to probe allegations that a visitor’s book from Sinha’s official home showed he met several suspects in the coal scam. The alleged meetings triggered suspicion that the then CBI chief tried to influence investigation in collusion with government officials and private companies in under-priced sale of coalfields.
Earlier on Tuesday, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court that an apex court panel, appointed to inquire into the allegations of scuttling of the coal block allocation scam probe by then CBI director Ranjit Sinha, has indicated that prima facie there was an attempt to influence the investigation.
Rohatgi, who was provided with the copy of the interim report, said he had gone through the report of the panel headed by former CBI special director ML Sharma which has found that the visitors’ diary at Sinha’s residence was genuine.
However, he said that the correctness of entries in the visitors’ diary could only be ascertained in a court of law through evidence. “Unless there is evidence in a court of law which says that the visitor’s register is genuine, we may not be able to proceed in the matter,” he said.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Sinha, refuted the allegation saying the entries in the register or the diary were dubious or fictitious as the former CBI director was not in the national capital on many of those days.
“There is not a single case where I (Sinha) have taken a decision contrary to the investigating officers in closing coal cases,” Singh said. Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri reserved its order for passing directions.
However, rapping the agency for slow progress, the court said, “We have been telling you (CBI) time and again to complete the investigation. Every time you say we will do it within one month. “Last time you had said that you will do it by June 30. But still you have not done it. Please do it expeditiously,” the bench said.
During the hearing, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO ‘Common Cause’, said that as per the panel Sinha’s visitors diary has been found to be genuine and it is clear that he met many coal scam accused which influenced his decisions.
In May last year, the top court had called the former CBI director’s meetings “completely inappropriate” as he allegedly met the accused without the presence of an investigating officer.
It said an inquiry was necessary to ascertain the fairness and impact of his conduct in the coal scam probe. As per the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2012, the coal scam caused revenue loss to the tune of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to the exchequer.
In 2014, the top court revoked the allocation of more than 200 coal blocks sold by the government.
Gross Impropriety
Court pulls up CBI for sluggish probe
Ranjit Sinha’s visitors diary has been found to be genuine
Apex Court had earlier described the ex CBI chief’s meetings with scam accused as completely inappropriate