Supreme Court today termed as very disturbing the CBI’s Affidavit on sharing its report with the Law Minister and others on coalgate scam. The Apex Court slammed investigating agency for keeping the court in dark on the issue. A Division Bench of the Court called for restoring the independence of the CBI. It said that the sharing of information with the government about the probe into the scam has shaken the entire process and urged CBI not to take instructions from political masters on their probe.

Earlier, the CBI Director in its affidavit said that the draft report on coal scam was shared with Law Minister before submitting it to the Highest Court of the country. Mr.Ranjit Sinha also informed the Court that the report was also shared with one Joint Secretarial officer in Prime Minister’s office and in the Coal Ministry . He today assured the Supreme Court that agency will not share further status report in this case with any member of political executive.

The issue figured in the Rajya Sabha leading to its repeated adjournments before it was adjourned for the day . The stand off between the Government and the opposition seeking resignation of Law Minister on coal block allocation issue led to adjournment of the house for the 7th day. The issue of Chinese incursion was also taken up forcefully by Samajwadi Party members . Before the Lok Sabha approved, the Finance Bill leader of the opposition in the House Sushma Swaraj held Government responsible for present impasse in Parliament. She alleged due to a series of scams this situation has come. She said it is bounden duty of the opposition to raise its voice on reported scams in the larger interests of the country and the people.

Later the opposition members staged a walk out.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that he is studying the Supreme Court’s observations on the affidavit filed by the CBI on coal block allocation. Dr. Singh said that he will take whatever action is called for after studying the observations.

The CPM today said that the Supreme Court’s observations on the CBI’s status report on the coal block allocations issue are the direct indictment of the UPA government. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said that after the apex court’s remarks, the continuation of the Law minister has become untenable. He demanded that the Prime Minister should come forward and speak the truth to the nation as his office is also being named in the case.