Coal scam case: Court to consider CBI closure report on November 20

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court will consider on November 20 CBI's closure report in a coal scam case involving a private firm and persons in which the Supreme Court- appointed special public prosecutor (SPP) has differed with the agency and favoured their prosecution.

Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar sought clarifications from the prosecutors and investigating officer of the case.

"Certain clarifications have been sought. Matter be now put up for consideration on November 20, 2014," the judge said.

On October 27, SPP R S Cheema had differed with CBI's conclusion seeking closure of the case saying the court should proceed against the accused.

He had said there was evidence against the accused and if the court feels, it can take cognisance on CBI's closure report in which the agency has said that "no prosecutable evidence" was found against the company and others, arrayed as accused in its FIR.

If the court takes cognisance on the closure report, it implies that there is sufficient evidence to proceed against the accused.

The SPP, however, had clarified that no tangible evidence could be found against officials of the Coal Ministry.

CBI has filed a closure report in the matter in which it had lodged an FIR against Nagpur-based businessman Manoj Jayaswal, JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd and others for alleged irregularities by the firm in acquiring coal blocks.

On October 14, CBI had filed a revised closure report in the court.

This had come after the court had earlier observed that the probe was "incomplete" and nothing was clear in CBI's closure report and it was irked over the agency adopting different yardsticks in different cases and not following a uniform policy in its investigation.