Coal scam: SC directs CBI to file fresh status report against Ranjit Sinha

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New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the CBI to file within four weeks a fresh status report on the investigations conducted into the abuse of official position by its former chief Ranjit Sinha. The court also asked the CBI update it on the progress made in the investigations into 50 coal scam cases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices Deepak Gupta agreed with the agency's plea to grant it extra time to the file report. The apex court also dismissed a plea field by advocate M.L. Sharma seeking direction from the top court to CBI to go-ahead with coercive steps against Naveen Jindal, allegedly a beneficiary in the coal scam cases.

The counsel representing CBI contended before the court that the agency followed the procedure, and came to a conclusion that it was not necessary to arrest the accused.

It has been alleged that Sinha attempted to impede the CBI's investigation into the cases. The scam was revealed in 2012 after a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) was leaked to the media.

The counsel said nearly 55 regular cases have been registered in the scam. The investigating agency also informed the court that no arrest has been made so far under Prevention of Corruption Act.

Earlier, the top court had asked senior advocate R.S. Cheema to continue to be involved in the case as special public prosecutor (SPP) to conduct trials for the Enforcement Directorate and also money laundering cases.

Cheema was appointed the SPP in the coal block scam cases in 2014. He had expressed willingness to continue as the SPP in the cases filed by the CBI. He had sought to be relieved as a prosecutor in the money laundering cases.

--IANS

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