Bad Business Deal

The filing of FIR in the coal scam against top industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and former coal secretary P.C. Parakh has ruffled feathers of Corporate India (“Panic in the Boardroom”, November 4). The Prime Minister’s Office has defended the decision, insisting that it was taken-keeping in mind the best interest of the country. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister himself has said that he is not above the law and is ready to face CBI enquiry. However, this witch hunt is proving to be damaging to the industry and demoralising the bureaucracy. We hope the Supreme Court will come up with the right decision without much delay and thus put an end to the ongoing imbroglio and allow corporates to function smoothly.

JACOB SAHAYAM, via email While industrialists and business houses shouldn’t be spared legal enquiries, they should not be harassed unless there is adequate proof of their involvement in a scam. Also, they shouldn’t be hounded just to save some big-shot politicians and bureaucrats. We should not forget that these are the same men who contribute immensely towards the growth and development of the country’s economy.

BAL GOVIND, Noida India Inc’s indulgence in mass-scale corruption is not a recent thing; it has now been established from Niira Radia’s tapped conversations that our business leaders have been trying to corner natural resources by hook or by crook for years. The least they bothered about through all this was public good. CBI’S decision to file an FIR against Kumar Mangalam Birla might appear hurried, but bashing its actions can’t absolve all the wrong deeds of business bigwigs. The Indian corporate edifice is crumbling under the weight of obnoxious filth, accrued through unlawful means.

H.K. PRAJAPATI, Saharanpur

The business community is always looking to make a profit and it’s perfectly legitimate. While buying natural resources from the Government, the business houses paid more than the fair price. Only, the money didn’t come to the exchequer. This is known as corruption. This is the most corrupt government in the history of modern times.

NEERAJ AGARWAL, via email