It is unfortunate that Kumarmangalam Birla has been named in the FIR of the CBI in the coal block allocation case for coal blocks allocated to Hindustan Aluminum or HINDALCO owned by him. If any irregularities were committed in allocation of the coal blocks, it is the government which is solely responsible for the allocation and not the beneficiary. As an industry, the company Hindalco was within its legitimate right to apply for the allocation of captive coal mines for its Aluminum plant since it was the government that invited applications from parties. Even if one assumes that there were infirmities in the application for allotment of coal blocks, why the screening committee of the government did not reject the application of Hindalco in first place?
The statement of former coal secretary P C Parakh who
has also been named in the FIR along with Birla by the CBI that if the
investigating agency has found a case of criminal conspiracy in the allotment
of coal blocks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too should be named as an accused
in the case and an FIR should be lodged against Prime Minister, for law does
not give any immunity to Prime Minister of India. After all, it was the Prime
Minister who signed the allotment order.
The CBI Director Ranjit Sinha has said in a newspaper
interview that the agency acted without any prejudice or bias. Sinha also
rubbished criticism and said that Birla would be given full opportunity to
defend his case and he may even be acquitted if no charge is found against him.
Sinha further clarified that the agency was investigating the coal case under
direct supervision of the Supreme Court of India and was answerable to it only.
He was responding to criticism by some lawyers for naming Birla in the FIR.
The corporate world is disturbed. The government must
evolve policy to end the atmosphere of distrust and witch hunting.
~R K Sinha
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