Don't think Manmohan Singh has personal role in coal scam: Union Minister Hansraj Ahir

MUMBAI: Union Minister Hansraj Ahir, who was a whistleblower in the coal scam, today said he did not think that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was personally involved in it but the fact that scandal happened under his rule could not be overlooked.

Singh, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, ex-Coal Secretary PC Parakh and three others were on March 11 summoned as accused by a Special Court in a case pertaining to allocation of Talabira-II coal block in Odisha in 2005. They have been asked to appear before it on April 8.

"Summoning of the former PM (who was then also holding coal portfolio) as an accused is not a good sign. But the fact the coal scam has happened under his rule cannot be overlooked. Singh turned a blind eye to what was happening to save his chair or under pressure from his party," Ahir said.