Coalgate: SC adjourns case till July 10, asks govt for affidavit on CBI's independence

NEW DELHI: Emphasising the need for Central Bureau of Investigation ( CBI) to be independent, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the government to file an affidavit on how the centre will ensure the same.

The apex court adjourned the Coalgate case till July 10, which is the date of the next hearing. It has also asked CBI to submit an undertaking that the probe report won't be shared.

Talking tough Supreme Court posed three questions to the CBI in the Coalgate scam case. Even as CBI assured the apex court of thorough and qualitative investigation, SC has asked it to revert with answers to the three options that the court has given.

In its first option, SC asked CBI whether a retired judge was required to supervise the investigations. It also asked the agency if it needed technical experts to be appointed to assist it in investigation. The third option that was posed allows CBI to continue with investigations on its own.

CBI told the Supreme Court that it will follow it's directions in letter and spirit.

Making scathing observations in the Coalgate scam, the Supreme Court called CBI a caged parrot. "CBI has become a caged parrot speaking in master's voice," the apex court observed.

CBI's affidavit shows that the investigative agency has many masters, the court said. "It's a sordid saga that there are many masters and one parrot," the court said.

Supreme Court went on to say that the CBI must know how to stand up against all pulls and pressures by government and its officials. "Probe report is not a progress report to be shared with government and its officials," the court told CBI.

The apex court pulled up Joint Secretaries of PMO and Coal Ministry for meeting CBI officials and suggesting changes in the draft report. "The job of CBI is not to interact with government officials but to interrogate to find the truth," it said.

The court expressed its concern over the government's interference in CBI probe in coal scam and other cases. "No external pressure, no intrusion in the CBI must be ensured," it said. According to SC, no 'substantial progress' has been made in the coal scam probe after registration of the case.

Attorney General G E Vahanvati told the apex court that he has neither asked not got CBI's probe report in coal scam. "My meeting with CBI officials took place only on suggestions of the Law Minister," Vahanvati said.