The Supreme Court Bench monitoring the coal scam investigation has decided to dig deep into allegations that former CBI Director Ranjit Sinha tried to favour accused in the coal scam probe.
Dealing with an application moved by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for one of the petitioners — NGO Common Cause, the Bench headed by Justice Madan lokur said that if a prima facie case was made out against Sinha, it may consider following the 2G spectrum case route to seek a report from the Special Public Prosecutor whether existing material, case files and visitor diary, established the guilt of the former Director.
What is interesting to observe is that the court did not mind the opposition raised by CBI questioning how the classified file notings and visitor diary of his residence gate were procured by Bhushan. The Bench told Bhushan that based on the material with him, if a prima facie case was made out, the court will seek assistance of SPP. The CBI had deposited all case files in a sealed cover requesting the same not to be shared with Bhushan. The court indicated that in the event the SPP is called to assist, all confidential files produced in court by CBI will be shared with SPP.
The CBI alleged that allegations against its former chief were “insinuations”. It pointed out an order of May 8, 2013 where the court has barred sharing of case material, investigation reports with anyone outside CBI.