Ex-Coal Secretary accuses CBI of 'witch hunt' against him

“If the CBI smelled conspiracy and corruption, why did it not name the Prime Minister in the FIR?” he asked and asserted that any Secretary only recommends to the Minister and the final decision has to be taken by the political executive.  

The author said “however, it must be said to the credit of the Prime Minister that at no time did the PMO make recommendations or exert pressure in favor of any party. Even in the case of Hindaclo, where the CBI has decided to register an FIR, the request was only to re-examine the case on merit.”

About his meeting with Birla, Parakh asked whether a law existed which prevented a civil servant to meet a citizen (Birla) who was feeling aggrieved over the government decision not to allocate coal block.

“Does re-examining a matter by a civil servant, based on the representation of an aggrieved party, by itself amounts to conspiracy and corruption? Where was abuse of power in this case?” Parakh, who retired in December 2005, asked.

He wondered where did the CBI get the information that Talabira II was reserved for allocation to public sector companies.