The CBI Director today admitted before the Supreme Court that certain changes were made in the
coalgate draft report on suggestions given by Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General G E Vanahvati and the officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.

In its nine-page affidavit, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha gave details of the meetings which took place between the officials of the probe agency, the Law Minister, AG, then Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval and officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.

The submission made by Sinha contradicts the stand taken by the Law Minister and AG, who had refuted the allegation that they had suggested changes in the draft report.

The affidavit said the changes made in the draft report on the suggestion of the Law Minister and Vanahvati have neither altered the report nor shifted the focus of inquiries in any manner”.

Sinha also said that no names of suspects or accused were removed from the status report and also that no suspect or accused was let off in the process.

The CBI chief in his affidavit also referred to certain changes made in the final status report on the suggestion of the law minister, the AG, and the officials of PMO and coal ministry.

Extending unconditional apology for any inadvertent omission or commission, Sinha said, there is nothing in the CBI manual to guide whether status reports in an ongoing investigation in a sub-judice matter are to be shared with others.

The affidavit also said that there was no intention to suppress from the Supreme Court the fact that the draft report was shared with political executive and government officials.