SC pulls up CBI in coal scam cases

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the CBI for its failure to conclude the investigation into the coal scam cases.

“We have been requesting the CBI from time-to-time to expedite the ongoing investigations, but it does not seem to come to an end,” a three-judge bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur observed.

The court asked the probe agency to file a report giving status of its investigation in the pending cases and fixed the matter for hearing on October 9.

The issue came before the court as special public prosecutor R S Cheema sought court’s permission to relieve a senior officer from CBI so that he can join the Jammu and Kashmir Police as a DIG-level official.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause, told the court that CBI has not expedited investigation in several coal cases.