The Supreme Court has formally closed the criminal proceedings against former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Talabira-II coal block allocation case, nearly two years after his death in December 2024. The case related to the allocation of the Talabira-II coal block in Odisha to Hindalco Industries during the UPA government’s tenure, when Singh also held the coal portfolio. The latest order effectively ends the last criminal proceedings against the former Prime Minister in the long-running coal allocation litigation. Dr Singh challenged the summons before the Supreme Court, arguing that the trial court had erred in taking cognisance despite the investigating agency itself finding no criminal case. The coal allocation controversy undoubtedly raised significant questions about transparency in the allocation of natural resources, leading to landmark judicial interventions and policy reforms.