The CBI has questioned former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with the alleged irregularities in coal block allocation case relating to Hindalco. When contacted, CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad refused to confirm or deny the report. Sources said, a team of CBI officials questioned the former Prime Minister at his residence two days back ahead of the filing of status report before a special CBI court by January 27.
Singh was questioned in connection with a coal scam case relating to allocation of Talabira II block to Hindalco, when he was also holding the charge of the Coal Ministry. The move comes after the designated court on December 16 directed the agency to question Singh and other PMO officials.
The sources said Singh was questioned about the developments which took place in the Ministry of Coal as well as the PMO after industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla had written two letters dated May 7, 2005 and June 17, 2005 to the then PM requesting allocation of Talabira-II coal block to Hindalco.
The agency is also learnt to have asked Singh on why the block that was allocated to PSU Neyveli lignite Corporation was shared with the private company and if any public purpose was served by favouring Hindalco.
The CBI had received a wrap on its knuckles as Special Judge Bharat Parashar had refused to accept the closure report in the case observing that it would be “appropriate” that the then Coal Minister (Singh) be “first examined”.