Apex court set aside the 2015 summons, holding there were no compelling grounds to reject the CBI’s closure report in the coal block allocation case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) closure report in the coal block allocation case against the late former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, bringing the long-running proceedings to an end.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana held that there were no compelling reasons to reject the CBI’s closure report or take cognisance against Singh.
“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… and close the matter on merits,” the Bench said.
The court also set aside the 2015 orders of the special court that had summoned Singh in connection with the allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco, allegedly against the recommendation of the Screening Committee.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Singh, urged the court to dispose of the matter and expunge adverse observations made against the former prime minister.
The judgment comes more than 18 months after Dr Singh’s death on December 26, 2024, with the apex court effectively endorsing the CBI’s findings that no case was made out against him.
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