CBI closure report accepted, Manmohan Singh coal scam case closed by Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court has closed the criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in connection with the alleged irregular allotment of coal blocks between 1993 and 2010.
• The court accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) closure report, which had been filed despite a trial court summoning Singh as an accused in 2015.
• This development may have significant implications for other individuals who held positions similar to Singh's during the alleged irregular allotment period.
• The Coal Block Allocation Scam refers to the alleged irregular allocation of coal blocks by the Central Government between 2004 and 2009.
• Instead of conducting competitive auctions, many coal blocks were allotted through a screening committee process, raising concerns about transparency and fairness.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, and V Mohana noted that there were no cogent reasons to discard the CBI's closure reports or take cognizance against Singh.

The Supreme Court has closed the criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in connection with the alleged irregular allotment of coal blocks between 1993 and 2010. The court accepted the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) closure report, which had been filed despite a trial court summoning Singh as an accused in 2015. This development may have significant implications for other individuals who held positions similar to Singh's during the alleged irregular allotment period.

The CBI had initially filed a closure report in the case, but the trial court rejected it and summoned Singh to face trial. However, the Supreme Court allowed an appeal by Singh and set aside the trial court's order, accepting the CBI's closure report. The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, and V Mohana noted that there were no cogent reasons to discard the CBI's closure reports or take cognizance against Singh.

The Supreme Court's decision to close the proceedings against Dr. Manmohan Singh is significant in light of the landmark judgment in 2014, which held that the allocation process was arbitrary and illegal. The court cancelled 214 of the 218 coal block allocations made since 1993, observing that the process lacked transparency and violated principles of fairness. Following the verdict, Parliament enacted the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, paving the way for transparent allocation of coal blocks through auctions and competitive bidding.

The case against Singh was one of several trials being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the Coal Block Allocation Scam. The CBI had filed a closure report in the case, but the trial court rejected it and summoned Singh to face trial. However, the Supreme Court allowed an appeal by Singh and set aside the trial court's order, accepting the CBI's closure report.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, and V Mohana considered the names of three judicial officers submitted by the Delhi High Court to replace Special CBI Judge Sanjay. The incumbent judge was allowed to continue for a period of six months, but had passed away in 2025.

The closure of proceedings against Dr. Manmohan Singh may have significant implications for other individuals who held positions similar to Singh's during the alleged irregular allotment period. Lawyers and compliance officers should note that this development may affect the prospects of other accused individuals in similar cases. The case highlights the importance of transparency and fairness in government decision-making, particularly in high-stakes areas such as coal block allocation.

The Coal Block Allocation Scam refers to the alleged irregular allocation of coal blocks by the Central Government between 2004 and 2009. Instead of conducting competitive auctions, many coal blocks were allotted through a screening committee process, raising concerns about transparency and fairness. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) estimated that the non-auction allocation of coal blocks could have resulted in a notional loss of about ₹1.86 lakh crore to the public exchequer.

Lawyers and compliance officers should note that the closure of proceedings against Dr. Manmohan Singh in the Coal Block Allocation Scam may have implications for other accused individuals, particularly those who held positions similar to Singh's during the alleged irregular allotment period.

Source: Original reporting via Supreme Court