Coalgate graft allegations fishy: CBI

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday took exception to the allegation that a group of its officers conspired to scuttle the probe into Coalgate cases, dismissing it as baseless and a “malicious“ attempt to discredit the agency.
Responding to allegations that a group of officers in the economic offences wing of the agency took bribes to subvert probe into 24 cases related to Coalgate, the CBI said the calls taken by sleuths in all the cases mentioned in the anonymous complaint were evaluated and found to be above board.They also said the decisions were al so upheld by the CVC and that the Supreme court was apprised of the matter.
CBI spokesperson Devpreet Singh also emphasised that under the CVC manual, CBI is not supposed to act on anonymous allegations, suggesting that the agency went to extraordinary lengths to look into the matter.
The complaint and the publicity it has received intrigued many in the government as well as the agency , especially because of its timing. Many in the government feel the contents of the anonymous complaint were highlighted two days before the SC will hear the views of attorney gene ral Mukul Rohatgi on the findings of the committee headed by retired IPS office M L Sharma which is looking into the decision of the ex-CBI chief Ranjit Sinha to close some of the Coalgate-related cases.
It will be interesting to watch the SC's response to the renewed focus on the alleged attempt to compromise the probe into the cases.
Sharma, who was handpicked by SC to examine the allegations that the former CBI chief undermined the probe, had made extensive demands: powers to arrest and carry out searches and seizures, as well as a big budget and larger team to assist him. The AG had re sisted the demands.
The CBI spokesperson said the report “founded on an anonymous complaint are baseless, malicious and an attempt to discredit the agency and to create a misleading impression regarding a sensitive court monitored investigation“.
“It lacks specific, credible and verifiable basis and it is an attempt to unjustly sensationalise an important investigation and hence strongly denied. It is reiterated that the investigations into the coal scam are being carried out fairly and impartially with the highest degree of diligence and professionalism under the monitoring of the SC,“ she said.