The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the summons issued by the special CBI court to former prime minister Manmohan Singh in a coal scam case.

The special CBI court had summoned Singh along with five others. Singh has been accused of criminal conspiracy, corruption and breach of trust by a public servant. The SC also stayed proceedings before special court in Talabira-II coal block allocation to Hindalco. The court granted similar stay to Kumar Mangalam Birla, PC Parakh & three others summoned by the special court.

The case is going to be milestone of criminal law principles, said Manmohan Singh’s counsel KTS Tulsi after the stay was granted by the SC.

Last week, Singh had moved the Supreme Court, challenging the summons and calling it an act of political vendetta by the NDA government. The special CBI court had asked Singh to appear before it on April 8 in connection with the scam. The economist ex-PM has already been questioned by the CBI twice in the case, which had severely embarrassed the UPA government in its second stint.

Reacting to the summons, the former prime minister had said, "I am sure that the truth will prevail and I will get a chance to put forward my case with all the facts. I have always said I am open for legal scrutiny." "Of course I am upset,  but this is part of life," he added.

The Congress had also rejected the charges and the party president led a solidarity march from the parliament to Manmohan’s residence.