In an affidavit filed in the SC on Friday April 26,2013, the CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said: “I submit that the draft of the same (March 8 status report) was shared with honourable union minister for law and justice as desired by him prior to its submission before the honourable court.”
The affidavit revealed that “besides the political executive, it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of the Prime Minister's Office, and ministry of coal, as desired by them”.
Ranjit Sinha said this in response to March 12 orders of the apex court asking him whether the March 8 status report was vetted by him and whether its contents were shared with the political executive.
However, the CBI director in his affidavit also told the court that the investigating agency's status report of April 26 has been personally vetted by him, and not shared with anyone, including the political executive
SC on CBI Sharing Report -Tuesday April 30,2013
The Supreme Court on Tuesday April 30,2013 questioned why it was kept 'in the dark' about sharing the probe report. "You don't need to take instructions from political masters," the bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said
The SC has directed the CBI to submit an affidavit stating what changes were made in its status report and at whose instruction. The court has also demanded a list of the officers involved in the investigations. Justice Lodha said, "If its deliberate, intentional, why was it done? Was it decided to do so? All these things should not happen." "Is the law minister entitled to ask for the report under the CBI manuals?,"
SC has also directed the CBI chief to clarify by May 6 as to why in the status report of March 8 no disclosure was made that draft report has been shared with Government
CBI Files Fresh Affidavit in SC -Monday May 06,2013
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati, one Joint Secretary rank official each from the Prime Minister's Office and the Coal Ministry not only saw the draft status report on the coal scam case, but also ordered some changes in it, the CBI told the Supreme Court in a fresh affidavit submitted on Monday May 06,2013.
The 9-page affidavit submitted by CBI Director Ranjit Sinha gives details of the March 6 meeting that took place with the Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati, Joint Secretary in the PMO Shatrughna Singh, AK Bhalla of the Coal Ministry and Joint Director of the CBI OP Galhotra. Former Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval was also present in the meeting, said CBI. The affidavit says a series of three meetings were held between the CBI and government officials at the A-G's office, the Law Minister's office and at the CBI headquarters.
The CBI has also detailed how the changes were made. According to the CBI affidavit two changes were made in the report - one at the instance of the Law Minister and the other at the instance of the PMO and Coal Ministry.
CBI Director Ranjit Sinha also claimed that only the draft status report was shared with the political executive and the Attorney General and not the final status report. Sinha in the affidavit also said that consequent changes in the report have neither altered its central theme nor shifted the focus of inquiries in any manner. According to the CBI affidavit no names of suspects or accused were removed from the status report and no suspect or accused was let off.
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