CBI seeks SC nod to share information in coal block case

The CBI on Monday sought the Supreme Court’s permission to share information on the coal block allocation case, which it is probing, with the appropriate authority.

The probe agency pleaded the court to modify its May 8 order directing it not to share its investigation report with anyone. The CBI also sought permission to change the 33-member investigation team which would allow it to include some more officers to handle the 13 regular cases and three preliminary inquiries registered so far.

In two separate interlocutory applications, the CBI said it required to share the progress in the investigation with prosecutors and law officers to obtain necessary sanctions and advice.

“This in-house mechanism of seeking legal opinion during investigation ensures that only those cases are sent for trial which can stand the litmus test. Not only this, the scrutiny of evidence collected during the investigation by law officers leads to strengthening of evidence required for proving the commission of the offence against the accused,” it said.

The agency relied on the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act in order to buttress its arguments.

“The scope of inquiries/investigation is expanding. However, to comply with the mandate of the statutory provisions, it may be necessary for the CBI to share information with (a) appropriate government for purpose of notification/consent under the Act (b) the appropriate authority for the purpose of the approval under the Act,” it said.

Both the applications may be taken up for hearing on July 10.

The Supreme Court had on May 8 asked the CBI not to share its status report with anyone. The court had then told the CBI director to ensure that even the law officers like Attorney General and Additional Solicitor General are not allowed to go through the probe report.

It had also described the CBI as a “caged parrot speaking in its political masters’ voice” after its director Ranjit Sinha admitted sharing the status report with then Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and allowed alterations at his instance.

“Henceforth, the CBI Director shall ensure that in the matter of inquiry and investigation of allocation of coal blocks, no access of any nature is provided to any persons or authority, including the Minister of concerned department, Law Minister or any other central minister, Law officers, CBI counsel, Director of Prosecution or any other person outside the investigation team,” the court had ordered.