Law minister meets top officials over Coalgate report

Against reports that government vetted CBI`s report on coal block allocation scam, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar met top officers to discuss the ramifications and the future course of action.

New Delhi: Against the backdrop of reports that the government had allegedly vetted CBI`s report on the coal block allocation scam, Law Minister Ashwani Kumar is learnt to have met on Saturday top officers to discuss the ramifications and the future course of action. Sources said during their meeting Kumar is learnt to have discussed the issue with ministry officials.

There are indications that the Law Ministry is inclined to keep an arms length from the affidavit the CBI is to sumbit to the Supreme Court on whether its report has been shared with the political executive. Reports had it that the Law Minister summoned CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha and the report was changed and toned down after the meeting. "The reports are speculative. We are yet to file an affidavit before the Supreme Court," the CBI Director said today when asked about his reaction. Asked about the alleged meetings with the Law Minister and PMO officials, he said, "We cannot comment on it and would disclose everything before the Supreme Court only." CBI had filed a status report on its probe in alleged irregularities in allocation of coal mines before the Supreme Court on March 8 where it had claimed coal block allocation during 2006-09 was done without verifying the credentials of companies which allegedly misrepresented facts about themselves. PTI