The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) decision to give a clean chit to former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in a case linked to the allocation of coal blocks, formally closing the proceedings against him.
A Bench of the Court recorded the CBI’s submission that its investigation had found no material to justify prosecuting Dr Singh. According to the agency, the evidence collected during the probe did not establish any criminal misconduct, abuse of official position or conspiracy attributable to the former Prime Minister.
The case arose from allegations concerning the allocation of captive coal blocks during the period when Dr Singh also held charge of the Coal Ministry. The controversy led to multiple investigations after questions were raised about the allocation process and several criminal cases were registered against public officials and private entities.
The CBI informed the Court that despite an extensive investigation, it had not found sufficient evidence to implicate Dr Singh in any criminal offence connected with the allocations. It therefore decided to file a closure report insofar as the former Prime Minister was concerned.
Accepting the agency’s stand, the Supreme Court brought the proceedings against Dr Singh to an end. The order effectively endorses the CBI’s conclusion that no case for prosecution was made out against the late Prime Minister in relation to the coal block allocation matter.
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