Photo: ZEE News
It’s a relief for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as his name has been cleared by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, though he will still be investigated for criminal break of trust, criminal conspiracy and corruption in the coal scam.
The apex court has put a stay on the lower court’s order summoning the former PM in the scam.
“There was no criminal intent, it (the allotment) was an administrative decision and not an illegality,” said the politician’s lawyer, Kapil Sibal.
“SC has ordered the stay of the proceeding before the trial court and the summoning order of the trial court. The CBI has accepted the notice in court,” Singh’s lawyer Ashwini Kumar said.
A special CBI court had summoned him as guilty in connection with the allocation of the Talabira coal blocks to Hindalco.
Along with Dr Singh, 5 others, including industrialist Kumar Magalam Birla have been accused of criminal conspiracy and breach of trust. The court accused Singh of showing ‘undue interest’ in the allocation.
The former PM was asked by the CBI about the details of the two letters that Kumar Mangalam Birla had written to him between May 7 and June 17 two years ago. They also questioned him over why the Prime Minister’s office had sent constant reminders to the Coal Ministry for Hindalco’s allocation.
Singh has firmly denied any conspiracy from his side.
Even though the CBI has said that it would like to close the case against him, they have been overruled by the judge who is handling this matter.
Tags: CBI Coal scam Manmohan singh Supreme Court
