Centre gets it from SC on coal mess

Enraged at the CBI and the Centre for colluding over the agency's status report on coalgate, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said there was “erosion of faith” deposed in the investigative agency which must be “liberated” from the influence of the political executive.

“The CBI’s affidavit has a very disturbing feature. Why did you not inform us in your status report dated March 8 that it had been shared (with law minister and joint secretaries of PMO and coal ministry)? Why did you have to wait for us to ask you this question? ... Had this court not directed you on March 12 (to file affidavit), all things would have been brushed under the carpet,” a threejudge bench headed by Justice R.M. Lodha told senior advocate U.U. Lalit, who appeared for the CBI.

“We believed and trusted you, but you kept us in the dark. Your foundations are shaky... Sharing information with the government has shaken the entire (investigation) process. Maybe somebody desired something,” the bench told the CBI, adding, “As an investigator you know that you are the master and you need not take instructions from anyone. Suppression of facts by CBI is not something ordinary. Our first aim is that CBI will have to be liberated from extraneous influences."

The court also expressed disappointment over CBI director Ranjit Sinha's affidavit being silent on the changes that were made in the status report after the meeting held with law minister Ashwani Kumar and the two joint secretaries.

“You haven't disclosed anything on how the draft was changed. There has been complete erosion of trust we had in you,” the bench, also comprising justices M.B. Lokur and Kurian Joseph, said.

Ruing that the apex court was deliberately kept in the dark about the fact that the report was discussed with the government before being submitted to it, the bench directed the CBI chief to file another affidavit by May 6.