Coalgate: CBI to deny charges on government's intervention in probe

NEW DELHI: CBI's affidavit in the Supreme Court will confirm reports about its officials meeting law minister Ashwani Kumar over coalgate investigations. However, it will deny charges of governmental intervention in the probe, a source said. The affidavit, expected to be filed in the Supreme Court on Friday, will also reiterate its initial finding that due procedures were not followed while allocating coal blocks.

"That officials met law minister does not mean that the report was tampered with. There were some suggestions on legal points raised by the minister in that meeting, and they were incorporated. There was no change in substance or essence of the report," a source said.

The CBI affidavit will argue that the law ministry is the nodal ministry for the investigating agency and such meetings with the minister are not extraordinary. The source said that CBI would point out that it is a practice to consult the nodal ministry in legal matters pertaining to higher courts.

According to the source, the affidavit would have an annexure containing both the reports - the one submitted to the law ministry and the final report prepared by the probe agency. The Supreme Court which can study both reports would be able to decide whether there has been any dilution in the report, the source said.

To make its case stronger that there was no interference, CBI would point to the status report filed last month which alleged that the government had failed to check the financial and other records of companies that landed cheap coal licenses.

"There was no watering down or tampering in the key content or substance of the report by any minister of the government. It is evident from the fact that we have not absolved the government on any count in the previous status report. On the contrary, relevant government departments have been help accountable on multiple fronts," a top CBI official said.

The controversy had led to the Opposition demanding resignation of Kumar for allegedly interfering with CBI functioning.

"There is reason to believe PMO officials were involved in the proposed changes to the coal report," said BJP leader Arun Jaitley, hours after the opposition in Parliament demanded the PM's resignation.