NEW DELHI: The CBI has examined former PM Manmohan Singh in connection with the coal block allocation scam, according to sources.

CBI, however, has neither confirmed nor denied the information.

According to informed sources, a team of CBI officials "examined" the former Prime Minister at his residence two days ago ahead of the filing of status report before a special CBI court by January 27.

Singh's examination was in connection with a coal scam case relating to allocation of Talabira II block to Hindalco when he was also holding the portfolio of Coal and in pursuance of the court's December 16 order.

When contacted, CBI refused to confirm or deny the development while an aide of the former Prime Minister denied it.

The sources said Singh was examined about the developments which took place in the Ministry of Coal as well as the PMO after industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla had written two letters dated May 7, 2005 and June 17, 2005 to the then PM requesting for allocation of Talabira-II coal block to Hindalco.

CBI had received a wrap on its knuckles as special judge Bharat Parashar had refused to accept the closure report in the case observing that it would be "appropriate" that the then coal minister (Singh) be "first examined" regarding various aspects of the matter.

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SC refuses to bring Manmohan Singh, ex-coal ministers under scanner

A special court hearing the coal block case involving industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others had asked CBI to record the statement of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was then holding the coal ministry portfolio, in November last year.

The court on November 25 had asked the investigating officer if officials at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the then coal minister were examined. The officer said some PMO officials were examined but the then coal minister was not.