The cartoon depicts the coal allocation scam known as "Coalgate" that erupted in 2012 in India. It shows a coal mine operator handing bags of coal and money to various politicians and bureaucrats with labels like "CBI", "PM's office" and "Coal ministry" indicating the alleged involvement of different agencies in the scam. In the background is a board that reads "First come, serve yourself" satirically referring to the illegal and arbitrary allocation of coal blocks to private companies.