New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has sought a detailed report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the central government's interference in investigations related to the coal blocks allocation scam.
The CBI has also been asked to submit its latest status report on the case to the Commission.
The move came after it came to light that certain changes were made in the agency's draft status report on the case submitted to the Supreme Court. The CBI is probing irregularities in allocation of coal mine blocks on the direction of CVC.
According to television reports, the commission will soon hold a meeting with CBI Director Ranjit Sinha to take stock of the agency's probe in the matter. The CBI has so far registered 11 FIRs in the matter.
The apex court had on Wednesday pulled up the CB, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Coal Ministry officials for changing the "heart" of the coal scam probe report and directed the government to come out with a law before July 10 to insulate the agency from "external influence and intrusion".
Even as it came down heavily on these entities, the apex court also made a reference to Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar's role in vetting the probe report and asked, "does it not subvert the integrity of the investigation if changes are brought in status report on the suggestion of Law Minister and government officers."
In a draft report issued in March 2012, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) office accused the government of allocating coal blocks in an inefficient manner during the period 2004-2009.
Over the Summer of 2012, the BJP lodged a complaint resulting in a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into whether the allocation of the coal blocks was in fact influenced by corruption.
The essence of the CAG"s argument is that the government had the authority to allocate coal blocks by a process of competitive bidding, but chose not to.
As a result both public sector enterprises (PSEs) and private firms paid less than they might have otherwise.
In its draft report in March this year, the CAG estimated that the "windfall gain" to the allocatees was Rs.10673.03 billion.
The CAG Final Report tabled in Parliament put the figure at Rs.1855.91 billion.
On August 27, 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh read a statement in Parliament rebutting the CAG"s report both in its reading of the law and the alleged cost of the government's policies.
Former senior police officers have also by and large welcomed the Supreme Court's strictures against the government and the CBI in the coal block allocation scam report/affidavit. (ANI)
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