Coal Scam: Ex-top bureaucrats come out in support of Parakh

New Delhi: Former top bureaucrats have come out in support of ex-coal secretary PC Parakh, who has been named by CBI in the coal block allocations scam, warning that harassment of honest officers will erode government's credibility and stop senior officers from taking decisions."Parakh, as I have known him, is an honest, competent officer. While I do not wish to comment on the CBI investigation as such, as I do not have all the facts, I am at a loss to understand how an FIR has been filed only against him and no one in the PMO and no Minister," said EAS Sarma, former coal secretary.If it is a case of conspiracy, all the conspirators should be taken into account. I hope there is no conspiracy, said Sarma, a former IAS officer."I feel that investigations in such cases should be objective and uninfluenced by extraneous pressures. A clear distinction must be made between decisions taken in good faith and mala fide decisions. It is unfortunate that dishonest ministers, politicians and officers should be let off and honest officers harassed. It will only erode the credibility of the government which has already been on the decline in the recent times," he said.Sarma said he has written to CVC on June 15 last year requesting it to initiate an investigation into the role of the PMO in the Coalgate affair and three other scams."I reminded CVC at least two times after that. There has been no visible response from CVC on my letters," Sarma said.Former Cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian said such kind of action by CBI against Parakh will stop others from taking decisions."There are all kind of bureaucrats, good, bad, honest ... There has to be a reasonable basis for any action by the agency," he said."According to the FIR, it was said Parakh met Kumar Mangalam Birla. As Cabinet Secretary, I used to meet ten bureaucrats, ten politicians and ten businessmen daily. Should that mean that I be also made an accused?" he asked.Parakh wanted the system to be changed for good, rued Subramanian. The former cabinet secretary also felt that there was an "ulterior motive" behind the move to name Parakh as an accused."If he has been made an accused, he could be crippled as a witness. There could be an ulterior motive," he said.Former central vigilance commissioner N Vittal accused CBI of not following its charter. "It is utterly unfair and incompetent on part of CBI (to name Parakh). They are not following their charter. I condemn CBI's action," he said."I have known Parakh. He is an honest person and has a good reputation," Vittal said.The former CVC said going by CBI's logic as a minister in charge of coal ministry, Prime Minister should be held responsible for taking any decision on the matter.Former IAS officer G Sundaram also condemned CBI's action. "I do not know him (Parakh). People who know him say he is an honest officer. But going by the charges, Prime Minister and senior officials in the PMO should also be named as the final decision was taken by them only," he said.CBI has registered a case against Parakh and industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla on charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of two coal blocks in Odisha in 2005.Parakh has dubbed as "baseless" allegations levelled against him by the CBI."There is absolutely nothing wrong with the decision. It was a very fair and correct decision that we took. I don't know why CBI thought that there is a conspiracy," Parakh has said."But, if there is a conspiracy, then there are different members in this conspiracy. There is KM Birla who made the representation, he is one conspirator. I, who examined the case and made a recommendation, I can be another conspirator and the Prime Minister, who as the coal minister, took the final decision, is the third conspirator."So, if the CBI thinks there is a conspiracy, why did they choose and select Mr Birla and me and not the PM. If conspiracy is there, then everyone is part of the conspiracy," he contended.