New Delhi : A special court on Wednesday reprimanded the CBI for trying to segregate one of the cases arising out of the coal block allocation scam to keep it away from being tried by it and seeking its transfer to a regular court.
The court was anguished that the CBI, which itself had got the case transferred to it from the regular court by citing a Supreme Court order, was seeking re-transfer of the case against two government officials on the ground that it was different from those being monitored by the apex court.
Justice Bharat Parashar said it was ‘strange’ that despite relying on the Supreme Court’s July 25 order on setting up of Special Court for coal scam, the CBI prosecutor and the investigating officer (IO) have not gone through it and were making distinction between the cases probed by its two wings – anti-corruption unit and economic offences wing. The CBI, during the proceedings, later withdrew its application for transfer of the case from the Special Court to the regular court.
The judge expressed his displeasure that the CBI sought to make its own categorisation of the cases without consulting the apex-court appointed Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) R S Cheema, who has been authorised to examine documents relating to the scam. “Have you (prosecutor) gone through the SC’s order of July 25….The CBI is relying on the apex court’s order, but you are saying you have not gone through the order of the SC. This is strange,” the judge observed, adding that “You (CBI) are not preferring to talk to SPP appointed by the SC. The CBI has to take a stand.”
‘Agency lacks skills’
Meanwhile, a Delhi court said the CBI officers lacked ‘basic skills of investigation’ and ordered its Director Ranjit Sinha and all concerned DIGs to personally look into the matter failing which they would be held ‘responsible’.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also issued show cause notices to CBI inspector Rajbir Singh, investigating officer (IO) in a case in which a closure report was filed against Vikash Metals and Power Ltd, and its SP Nirbhay Kumar.
