A special court of CBI formed to handle the illegal allocation of coal blocks of Talabira II coal block in Odisha, has summoned notices today to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Kumar Mangalam Birla, former chief secretary of Coal Ministry P C Parakh, M/s Hindalco and it’s officials Shubhendu Amitabh and D Bhattacharya.

 

The special court judge Bharat Parashar, who served the summons to the six accused in this case has asked them to personally appear before the court on April 8th. They were charged under sections 120B, 409 of the IPC and under Sections 13(1) (c) and 13(1)(d)(3) of PCA. The notices are served in connection with the case pertaining to Talabira-II coal block in Odisha in 2005.

 

Former Prime Minister Singh was summoned because he was holding the coal portfolio during 2005, when his ministry allocates 15 percent share to Hindalco Company.

 

However, Congress party has strongly defended him in the parliament stating he is not accountable for allocating 15 percent share to the Hindalco Company as the decision was taken by the board lead by then then chief secretary of the coal ministry P C Parakh and others.

 

However, union minister Prakash Javadekar replied “Dr. Manmohan Singh is paying for the sins of the Congress party. Dr. Manmohan Singh responding on summons “Of course, I am upset but this is part of life. I have respect for the judicial process. I have stated my position before the CBI. I have issued statements also justifying what we did.”

 

All other accused in this case also state that they are innocent and did no wrong. If, so whom to be blamed in this scam?