Clean chit to Dr. Manmohan Singh: Supreme Court clears late PM in coal scam nearly two years after his death

PTC News Desk: Nearly two years after former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's death, the Supreme Court has cleared him of all charges in the Talabira-II coal block allocation case. In a major ruling, the apex court set aside a 2015 Special CBI Court order that had summoned Singh and five others to stand trial.

The verdict brings an end to an 11-year legal battle that began after the Special CBI Court rejected the CBI's finding that there was not enough evidence to prosecute the former Prime Minister. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant accepted the CBI's closure reports, saying the Special Judge had no valid reason to reject them. The Court noted that the CBI had conducted a detailed investigation and twice concluded that no criminal case was made out.

With this judgment, the Supreme Court has cancelled the Special CBI Court's March 11, 2015, order, accepted the closure reports, and officially closed the case.

What was coal scam ?

The case was linked to the 2005 allocation of the Talabira-II coal block in Odisha, when Dr. Manmohan Singh was also serving as the Coal Minister. Although the CBI found no evidence against him, the Special CBI Court had summoned Singh and five others on charges including criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.

The Supreme Court had stayed the trial proceedings on April 1, 2015, soon after the Special Court's order. That stay remained in place while the apex court examined the case, leading to Wednesday's final verdict.

The ruling is significant not only because it clears Dr. Manmohan Singh of all allegations but also because it brings closure to one of the last remaining criminal cases linked to the coal block allocation controversy, which had become a major political issue during the UPA government's tenure.