Ex-CBI chief 'influenced coal scam probe': AG to SC

As Ranjit Sinha didn't change decision, AG not in favour of FIR against him

A committee appointed by the Supreme Court to go into allegations that former Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha had received visitors at his official residence and later, as a result, tried to influence the course of investigation into coal block allocations, had largely confirmed the allegations, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi told the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The court last year appointed a committee headed by former CBI special director M L Sharma to find out whether Sinha had tried to influence the probe. This was after Prashant Bhushan, representing a not-for-profit organisation Common Cause, submitted the visitor’s diary at Sinha’s residence detailing the names of high-profile visitors during the course of investigations into the coal block scam.

Rohatgi, however, told the court he was against filing a First Information Report (FIR) against Sinha, as he did not change his decisions after the meetings. The chief vigilance commissioner has also examined the records.

Rohatagi, according to a Press Trust of India report, said the probe panel had indicated “prima facie there was an attempt to influence the investigation”.

“Rohatgi told the apex court that he had gone through the report, which had found the visitors’ diary at Sinha’s residence was genuine,” PTI reported, “However, Rohatgi said the correctness of entries in the visitors’ diary could only be ascertained in a court of law through evidence,” it added.

The committee to look into the allegations made by Common Cause handed over the report in a sealed cover to a Supreme Court Bench headed by Judge Madan Lokur in April. The report was then given to the attorney-general.

The report, still not public, is believed to have largely confirmed the allegations made by the organisation.

In the latest proceedings on Tuesday, Bhushan wanted a Special Investigation Team to go into Sinha’s conduct and filing of an FIR against him. The court will take its decision later on the next step.

Business Standard could not reach Sinha for a comment despite repeated phone calls.

A CBI spokesperson refused to comment on the development stating the matter was sub judice. Sinha’s counsel Vikas Singh, however, denied the allegation in court saying the entries in the diary were dubious as his client was not in Delhi on most occasions.

The CBI had started investigating allotment of coal blocks over the past two decades after a Comptroller and Auditor General report in 2012 alleged a Rs 1.86 lakh crore windfall gain to the companies granted these blocks.

A QUICK LOOK

• The SC last year appointed a panel headed by former CBI special director M L Sharma to find out whether Ranjit Sinha had tried to influence the probe
   
• It was after Prashant Bhushan submitted the visitor's diary at Sinha's residence detailing the names of high-profile visitors during the course of investigations into the coal block scam
   
• Attorney-General Mukul Rohatagi reportedly said the probe panel had indicated “prima facie there was an attempt to influence the investigation”