Effort on to manipulate the entire system: Special CBI Court

New Delhi: A senior CBI official said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was handling the charge of coal ministry in 2005, and two former officials would be questioned in the Talabira-II coal block allocation to Hindalco case.

“I am of the considered opinion that before the matter is examined further as to what offence, if any, stands committed or by whom the same has been committed, it will be appropriate that the then minister of coal (Manmohan Singh) be first examined for various aspects of the matter,” the judge said in a 50-page order, directing the agency to file a progress report January 27.

The court observed that documents recovered during the probe coupled with the fact that Mr Birla had met Dr Singh, the then coal secretary P.C. Parakh and Dasari Narayana Rao (the then minister of state for coal and mines) and had also written two letters to then Prime Minister showed that a “concerted effort” was being made to “manipulate” the entire system.

The court in its order, however, clarified that there cannot be any objection if the head of a leading industrial house met the Prime Minister or other top officials “but when such meetings are seen in the over all facts and circumstances as mentioned above coupled with the follow up action which resulted at the administrative level in the government then it certainly raises eyebrows.”

The Hindalco angle:

• The CBI filed the case against Kumar Mangalam Birla and Mr Parakh, the former Coal Secretary, in relation to a block allocated in 2005 to Hindalco.
• It was a part of the Coalgate scam which exploded in 2012 after the state auditor alleged Rs 1.86 lakh crores had been lost because mining licenses had not been allotted through a transparent bidding process.
• CBI closed the case against Mr Birla and Mr Parakh
• In September, the court asked the CBI why it was in “in such a hurry” to close the case.
• On Nov. 26 the court sought clarifications on the mode of probe
• “Don’t you think examination of the then coal minister was necessary in the matter,” the court asked.
• The CBI said that after questioning PMO and coal ministry officials, it didn’t think it necessary to quiz the PM.

The Special Court said:

• The court desires that the statements of then coal minister be recorded.
• When the matter was again sought to be re-opened pursuant to the two letters written by Mr Birla to the PM as were received in the coal ministry through PMO, section officer Premraj Kuar had observed that it won’t be possible to accede to the request of allocation of Talabira-II Coal Block to M/s Hindalco.
• Mr Kuar’s note was overlooked/not approved at higher levels. Thus in the light of the documents recovered ... it is found that a concerted effort was being made to manipulate the Government machinery to protect the interest of M/s HINDALCO.