File photo of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. (Reuters photo)
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has apparently been examined by Central Bureau of Investigation in the coal block allocation case relating to Hindalco, reported news agency Press Trust of India. But NDTV is yet to receive a confirmation from the agency. Dr Singh's office has denied receiving any summons.
A team of CBI officials "examined" the former Prime Minister at his home two days ago, PTI reported, quoting sources. The case pertained to the allocation of a Talabira II block to Hindalco when Dr Singh was holding the coal portfolio.
Dr Singh was examined about the developments which took place in the Ministry and in the Prime Minister's Office after industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla wrote two letters in May and June 2005, requesting for the allocation of the coal block, PTI reported.
The agency has to file a status report in the case before a special court by January 27.
Last year, the special court had given CBI the permission to examine Dr Singh in order to get a full sense of what led to Birla Hindalco getting a coal block.
The CBI had received a rap on its knuckles, with Special Judge Bharat Parashar refusing to accept its closure report in the case, observing it would be "appropriate" that Dr Singh be examined first.