Surnames cannot decide immunity from law in graft cases: Goyal

Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal today said "surnames cannot decide" on immunity from the law and action will be taken against any leader found indulging in corruption through an investigative process.

"Absolutely...But we are not driven by the media or by opposition party. We are driven by the reports of investigative agencies... If there are strong proofs against any person from any party, whether the person is big or small, strict action would be initiated," he said.

"Surnames cannot decide immunity from the law of land," Goyal said at a function of the Rotary Institute here.

He was responding to a question from the audience whether the government may remove any "highly-placed leader belonging to your party" who is known to be indulging in corruption.

Observing that there was an investigative process in the country, he said it was only after the investigative agencies "found that there was a coal scam .... we started talking and fighting for justice. Also the investigators said there was a ... telecom scam or the Commonwealth scam. It was not a television-driven scam."