Coal scam: Court directs CVC to clarify stand on closure report

New Delhi: A special court on Tuesday directed the Central Vigilance Commission to clarify its stand on CBI's report seeking closure of a coal block allocation scam case allegedly involving Prakash Industries Ltd and others.

The court's direction came after CVC Director Rashmi Sinha, who appeared before it, said the commission has sought comments from the Ministry of Coal (MoC) regarding the agency's closure report in the matter in which an FIR was lodged on the basis of CVC's reference.

During the hearing, Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar told Sinha that the court had issued notice to CVC Director to know the stand of commission as an institution on the issue.

"As per the Supreme Court directive, CVC has supervisory role over CBI and all the FIRs in coal scam cases have been registered on the recomendation of CVC.

"Primary objective of issuing notice to CVC director is to know whether the institution (CVC) has anything to say on the closure report filed by CBI and whether CVC can be of any help to this court in considering the closure report," the court said.

It further said that the law mandated the court to issue notice to the complainant, on whose complaint an FIR has been registered, if the probe agency files closure report.

"I have not called you (CVC Director) in your personal capacity. If you have to say something you can say. As an institution, you will have to clarify your stand," the judge said.

After Sinha said they have sought comments of Ministry on the issue, the court fixed the matter for November 16.

"It has been submitted that comments in the matter have been sought from the Ministry of Coal and after the same is received, the CVC will intimate the court. Accordingly, put up for consideration on November 16," the court noted in its order.

In the case, an FIR was lodged against Prakash Industries Ltd (PIL) and others in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of Chhattisgarh's Fatehpur coal block.