The court also pulled up CBI for its sluggish probe in the coal scam that had taken place during the UPA government's tenure and directed the agency to complete the investigation expeditiously.
The apex court, which is monitoring the probe into Coalgate, was today told by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the panel headed by former CBI special director M L Sharma has held that Sinha'a meetings with some of the high- profile accused in the scam prima facie indicated that there was an attempt to influence the investigation.
However, he said that the correctness of entries in the visitors' diary can only be ascertained in the court of law through evidence.
"Unless there is evidence in court of law which says that the visitor's register is genuine, we may not be able to proceed in the matter," he said.
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Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Sinha, refuted the allegation saying the entries in the register or the diary were dubious or fictitious as the former CBI director was not in the national capital on many of those days.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and A K Sikri reserved its order for passing directions.
Rapping the agency for slow progress, the court said, "We have been telling you (CBI) time and again to complete the investigation. Every time you say we will do it within one month. Last time you had said that you will do it by June 30. But still you have not done it. Please do it expeditiously," the bench said.
whole issue and sought constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the purpose.
"This court must set up some kind of SIT. Sharma can be head of the SIT and a couple of officers may be given to him. The report of the Sharma panel should be given to all the parties in the case and they may file their objections," he said.
With regard to missing files related to coal block allocations, the Central Vigilance Commission gave a clean chit to CBI and said that there is no criminality on CBI's part in the issue.
Earlier, the court had received an initial report of the Sharma panel and given it to the Attorney General for his perusal on condition of maintaining its confidentiality.
The copy of the report was given to the AG as the bench wanted his assistance after the Sharma panel had sought apex court's direction for supply of documents relating to preliminary enquiry into some of the matters in which the probe was closed.
The bench then appointed a panel headed by Sharma who later sought the visitors' diary for proceeding with the probe.