Coalgate storm: Raval quits as additional solicitor general

Additional Solicitor General Harin P Raval resigned today evening after the Supreme Court observed that sharing of the CBI report on coal blocks scam with political bosses was a “massive breach of trust” putting the credibility of the Centre at stake. Raval on 12 March had informed the apex court that the CBI report was not shared with anyone. [caption id=“attachment_742049” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Supreme Court of India. Reuters[/caption] Caught suddenly in the middle of a brewing storm between the Supreme Court and the government, the additional solicitor general in an explosive letter to his boss Attorney General Goolam Vahanvati blaming him of virtually lying in the court and meddling into CBI affairs regarding the Coalgate report. “On account of your statement, I felt embarrassed and was forced to take a stand, in Court, consistent with your submission made as Attorney General for India, that the contents of the Status Report were not known to you and that they were not shared with the Government,” Rawal wrote to Vahanvati that came out in the public today. Before his resignation, Raval represented CBI in the earlier hearings in the Supreme Court. “I am grateful that I had the oportunity to serve the  government,” Raval mentioned in his resignation letter. However, the former additional solicitor general gave no official reason for quitting office.