Supreme Court accepts CBI decision to clear late PM Manmohan Singh of coal scam allegations

The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the decision of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to close the case against former Prime Minister (PM) late Manmohan Singh in relation to the coal scam matter.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana allowed Singh's appeal challenging the summons issued to him by a trial court in 2015 in the case.

The Court said there were no compelling reasons for the trial court to reject CBI's closure report. Thus, it proceeded to accept the closure report filed against Singh by the CBI.

“We are satisfied that there were no compelling reasons for the learned sessions judge to turn down the closure reports by the CBI and to take cognizance. Consequently, we allow the SLP and set aside the impugned orders of the learned special judge and as a result thereto accept the closure reports filed by the CBI and close the matter on merits," the apex court said in its order.

The decision comes more than 1.5 years after Singh's death. Singh passed away on December 26, 2024.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Singh, earlier said that the plea can be disposed of with the order stating that the remarks against him stand effaced.

"I don't want these observation to be there," Sibal said.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi also appeared for the former PM.

On April 1, 2015, the apex court had stayed summons issued to the former PM. He was then represented by Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, KTS Tulsi, Ashwani Kumar, Vivek Tankha and Harin P Rawal.

Sibal had then argued that there was nothing illegal in the actions of the former PM while allotting coal blocks to Hindalco against the recommendation of the Screening Committee.

“It is a purely administrative decision. What is illegal in it? It is not illegal to allot a mine, it is not illegal to allot it to a private party. There is no statutory prohibition in doing so. He allotted coal blocks to a private party against the screening committee decision. There is nothing illegal in it," Sibal had said.

The Court was told special court had issued summons to Singh despite two closure reports filed by the CBI in the case.

Following this, the top court had stayed the proceedings against the former PM.

Today, Singh's plea challenging the summons was allowed and the case was closed.

Special Public Prosecutor A Karthik appeared for CBI.