The Supreme Court of India has cleared former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of wrongdoing in the Hindalco coal block allocation case [1].
This ruling provides a posthumous legal vindication for the former leader, resolving a long-standing legal battle over the administration of natural resources during his tenure. The decision effectively closes one of the most high-profile corruption inquiries into the Indian executive branch.
The court accepted a closure report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) [1]. By doing so, the justices set aside a 2015 trial-court order that had previously summoned Singh to face charges related to the scam [1].
The case centered on the allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco, a major aluminum and copper producer. For years, investigators examined whether the allocation process was manipulated to benefit specific corporate entities. The CBI's final report, which the court found sufficient, indicated that there was no evidence to support the charges against the former prime minister [2].
The legal clearance comes nearly two years after the death of Manmohan Singh [1]. While the trial court had initially pushed for a summons, the Supreme Court's intervention removes the legal stain associated with the 2015 order [2].
The proceedings highlight the complexities of the coal-block allocation scandal, which saw numerous officials and businessmen scrutinized over a decade. The acceptance of the closure report marks the end of the legal road for Singh in this specific matter [1].
“The Supreme Court of India has cleared former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of wrongdoing.”
This ruling signifies the formal end of the legal pursuit of Manmohan Singh regarding the Hindalco coal allocations. By overturning the 2015 summons and accepting the CBI's closure report, the court has established that the evidence did not warrant criminal proceedings against the former prime minister, effectively clearing his legacy of these specific corruption allegations.
