JOIN USNo faith in CBI probing Coal scam: Team Anna
Team Anna on Friday disapproved of entrusting the investigation of irregularities in the coal block allocation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“We have no faith in CBI investigating Coalgate scam because the CBI directly reports to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and is directly controlled by him. The outcome of such an investigation is already known — the prime minister will be given a clean chit in the end,” Arvind Kejriwal told media-persons.
“If the prime minister is really honest why is he scared of independent investigation? Why does he want himself to be investigated by an agency directly controlled by him?” asked Kejriwal.
“Let the charges against all the 15 ministers be investigated by this special investigation team (SIT),” he demanded.
Kejriwal also attacked Law Minister Salman Khurshid for refusing an investigation into the scam and said, “Khurshid himself is one of those 15 ministers who have been accused of corruption.”
He accused the government of using the CBI to pursue its political agenda,
“Disproportionate asset cases are going on against Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mayawati and many other politicians for several years. However no worthwhile investigation has taken place. But Jaganmohan Reddy, who is a political foe of the ruling UPA has been arrested in a very short period.
“We need a SIT, which is completely independent of the government, to investigate allegations against the 15 corrupt ministers” said the Team Anna member.
He rejected coal ministry’s rebuttal and said, “However, CAG has estimated this loss at Rs 1.8 lakh crore. Who took this decision to forego this revenue? Coal Secretary kept on opposing allocation of coal blocks through the Screening Committee method” alleged the anti-graft activist.