CBI undecided on summoning Manmohan Singh
Investigating agency seeks clarification from all 15 accused in case on whether they support or oppose the move
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is keeping its options open on summoning former prime minister Manmohan Singh in a case related to alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks.
In response to a plea filed by former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda to summon Singh as an accused in the case, the Central Bureau of Investigation sought a clarification from all the 15 accused in the case on whether they support or oppose the move.
“If Koda’s plea is allowed, it will lead to a joint trial... We have to see whether all the other accused are supporting or opposing the plea," CBI special prosecutor R.S. Cheema told the court.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block to two Jindal group companies—Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Infraenergy Ltd.
Koda has asked the court to summon Singh as an accused in the case, along with Anand Swaroop, former energy secretary, and Jai Shankar Tiwari, former mines secretary.
Special Central Bureau of Investigation judge Bharat Parashar had on 2 September asked the investigating agency to respond to the former Jharkhand chief minister’s plea.
Apart from Jindal Steel and Power and Gagan Infraenergy, Sowbhagya Media Ltd, New Delhi Exim Pvt. Ltd and Jindal Realty Pvt. Ltd are the other firms accused of wrongdoing in the case.
A lawyer representing one of the firms said they are yet to study the former chief minister’s application.
Singh held the coal portfolio at the time of the block’s allocation, but his name didn’t figure in the CBI chargesheet, which mentions Koda, former coal secretary H.C Gupta, 10 others and five companies.
In April, the apex court had stayed the summons issued to the former prime minister and two others by the same court in another coal allocation case.
The case related to the allocation of Talabira II and Talabira III coalfields in Odisha to a joint venture between Hindalco, Neyveli Lignite Corp. Ltd and Mahanadi Coalfields in 2005.
Most coal blocks awarded by Singh’s government were overturned late last year by the Supreme Court, which deemed the process illegal.
Pretika Khanna contributed to this story.
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