The coalgate scam today claimed its first victim as Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval resigned from the post in the wake of the controversy over his statement in the Supreme Court that the CBI probe report was not shared with anyone.
Raval, who was replaced as the CBI counsel in the crucial hearing today, handed over his resignation to Law Minister Ashwani Kumar in the evening.
"I have submitted my resignation to the Law Minister," he told PTI.
In his letter, Raval said "I am resigning as ASG in the Supreme Court as desired. Please accept this with immediate effect and oblige. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the government".
His resignation came a day after he created a political storm by writing a hard-hitting letter to Attorney General G E Vahanvati in which he accused him of interfering in the preparation of CBI's probe report and was made a scapegoat in the matter.
Raval, who was the ASG since July 4, 2009, said he has no regret in writing the controversial letter in which he claimed that the Attorney General was also present in the meeting on March 6 when the draft status report was shared with Law Minister and two officials of joint secretary rank of the PMO and Ministry of Coal.
"Yes, I stand by what I have stated in my letter to the Attorney General," he said to a question.
In the letter, Raval claimed that despite being aware of the contents of the status report, the AG on March 12 submitted in the apex court that he was not in the know of it.
