The Supreme Court has closed a case alleging irregularities in the allocation of a coal block, clearing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh—two years after his death. The court quashed the summons issued by a CBI special court and accepted the agency’s assessment that there was insufficient material to proceed.
The matter related to the allocation of the Talabira-2 coal block in Odisha to Hindalco during the Congress-led UPA government in 2005, when Singh also held the coal portfolio. Allegations had been raised that the allotment involved wrongdoing.
The CBI, after inquiry, had stated that there was not enough evidence to register a case against Singh. However, on March 11, 2015, a special court issued summons for Singh and five others to appear.
Singh challenged the summons in the Supreme Court, which stayed his appearance on April 1, 2015. The case later came up before a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Jaimalya Bakshi and V. Mohana.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the allocation was an administrative decision without illegality and sought removal of the stigma on the late leader. In its order, the Supreme Court set aside the special court’s summons, accepted the CBI report, and formally closed the proceedings against Singh.
