New Delhi:
The CBI has admitted to the Supreme Court that a version of its report on how the government mishandled the allocation of coal fields to private firms was seen before it was shared with judges last month by Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, and bureaucrats in the Coal Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office. (Read: Affidavit filed by CBI Director)
In a written undertaking to the court, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha said a draft of the report was shared with the officials "as desired by them" but did not explain why the agency complied.
The BJP has said that the CBI's admission establishes that the government is trying to influence the CBI's investigation to protect the Prime Minister, who held direct charge of the Coal Ministry for some of the years under review. Dr Manmohan Singh should resign, the Opposition said. "Whatever applies to the Law Minister applies to the PM as well," said the BJP's Jaswant Singh, stressing that both are equally accountable for a major breach of ethics and protocol. (Read: Who said what)
The government has reportedly decided to take its cue on whether the Law Minister should resign from the next Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday.
The Law Minister himself said, "I have done nothing wrong. The truth will prevail," a stand he also reportedly took in a private consultation with the PM.
Senior leader Kamal Nath said Mr Kumar was merely providing consultations to the CBI about the private firms being investigated. The CBI chief has not clarified whether the minister and bureaucrats who previewed the report asked for changes, or whether these were made.
In a written undertaking to the court, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha said a draft of the report was shared with the officials "as desired by them" but did not explain why the agency complied.
The BJP has said that the CBI's admission establishes that the government is trying to influence the CBI's investigation to protect the Prime Minister, who held direct charge of the Coal Ministry for some of the years under review. Dr Manmohan Singh should resign, the Opposition said. "Whatever applies to the Law Minister applies to the PM as well," said the BJP's Jaswant Singh, stressing that both are equally accountable for a major breach of ethics and protocol. (Read: Who said what)
The government has reportedly decided to take its cue on whether the Law Minister should resign from the next Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday.
The Law Minister himself said, "I have done nothing wrong. The truth will prevail," a stand he also reportedly took in a private consultation with the PM.
Senior leader Kamal Nath said Mr Kumar was merely providing consultations to the CBI about the private firms being investigated. The CBI chief has not clarified whether the minister and bureaucrats who previewed the report asked for changes, or whether these were made.
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