New Delhi: The ED is “unlikely” to seek clarification from former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with its investigations into the allocation of Talabira II coal block to Hindalco in 2005. Dr Singh was holding the coal portfolio in 2005.
Top sources in the ED said, “As of now, we have no plan to examine the former Prime Minister. It is the CBI that has been directed by a special court to record the statement of the former PM not the ED. The ED will wait for the CBI to complete its investigations into the allocation of Talabira block to Hindalco first, after that the agency will decide its future course of action.”
They went on to add that it is “unlikely” that ED will seek clarification from Dr Singh.
The Indore zone of the ED in May lodged a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against former coal secretary P.C. Parakh and Hindalco in connection with the allocation of Talabira II coal block. A special CBI court recently asked the CBI to examine former Dr Singh in connection with allocation of Talabira block to Hindalco in 2005 involving industrialist K.M. Birla. Besides Dr Singh, the court also said that it would be appropriate if the investigating officer examines B.V.R. Subram-anyam, who was PS to then Prime Minister and T.K.A. Nair, who was working as principal secretary in the PMO, in connection with the case.
