SC raps CBI for delays in coal scam probe

Rapping the CBI for delays in investigating coal scam cases, supreme court on Monday asked
the agency to conclude the probe without further extensions or transfer of officers.
A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Madan B Lokur pointed out that the probe is
not over though the deadline to conclude it was December 31 last year.
The court did not disguise its unhappiness when the CBI asked its permission to release one
senior officer from the investigation since he has to take up a fresh assignment at the National
Defence Council.
Sharan told the court that it has given the CBI time till March 31, 2016 to wrap up the cases
and by now, 15 more cases have also come up.
The court pointed out that despite provisional orders from Enforcement Directorate to attach
properties worth ₹186 crore, ₹24.5 crore and ₹2 crore, the probe agency did not file
complaints in two of the cases but kept mentioning in its progress reports until September 11
that if would file “complaint Shortly”.
In the third case with provisional attachment orders for more than ₹2 crore, it is not clear
whether the ED intended to file the complaint.