Coal scam: Special court asks CBI why then PM Manmohan Singh was not questioned

NEW DELHI: A Special CBI court on Tuesday asked the CBI why it had not questioned Manmohan Singh in the coal mine allocation case involving leading industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla as he was also the coal minister between 2005 and 2009 when the mine was awarded to Birla’s fir m, Hindalco. The CBI’s Investigating Officer told the court that this was not done as the agency felt the questioning of Singh “was not necessary” after some PMO officials were examined.

A senior government official told ET that Singh, while he was still the PM, had earlier this year offered himself for questioning by CBI in a meeting with CBI director Ranjit Sinha. It is believed that Sinha told Singh that this would not be needed. Singh, while returning from a tour to China last October had also said he was ready to face a CBI probe.

CBI’s move to not question Singh came in for questioning from the court on Tuesday. “Don’t you think examination of the then coal minister was necessary? Didn’t you feel the need to examine him? Don’t you think his statement was necessary to present a clear picture?,” Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar asked the CBI. An agency report of Tuesday’s court proceedings said that the Investigating Officer also mentioned that he was “not permitted” to question the then PM, but the CBI spokesperson claimed this statement was never made.

It has however been reported earlier than a CBI Superintendent of Police, KR Chaurasia had recommended last year that Singh should be questioned by the CBI but Sinha had turned this down saying there was no need to question the then-PM.