CBI seeks Govt nod for full probe on Sibal

The CBI has accused V K Sibal of colluding with private parties during his term as oil regulator and sought permission to investigate.

The CBI has accused V K Sibal of colluding with private parties during his term as oil regulator and has sought government permission for a thorough investigation.

CBI,which was asked by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to do a “discreet” ground verification of allegations of Sibal’s nexus with private oil and gas operators,in its preliminary report,alleged “gross abuse and misuse of public office by Sibal,” sources in the know said.

The preliminary report also talked of his “nexus with private parties” and his “obtaining pecuniary advantage in award of contracts and supply of information of sensitive data of resources.”

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However,neither the CVC nor the CBI have said anything on the allegations of his seeking favours from RIL in lieu of approving higher capital expenditure at Mukesh Ambani-run firm’s Krishna Godavari basin gas field.

CVC last month sought CBI help when its clearance was sought for giving an extension of service to Sibal as Director General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.

Sibal’s term at the DGH ended on October 31. Sources said the anti-corruption body’s report stated that prima facie a “vigilance angle” has been established in certain cases of extension of contracts by Sibal. Also,the process followed in levying liquidated damages on companies for not fulfilling exploration commitments was found arbitrary and so was the award of contracts for speculative surveys.

The sources said based on the findings,Sibal was denied an extension of service.

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Sibal subsequently joined his parent firm OIL on October 31. He was General Manager in OIL when he was appointed DG,DGH in 2004 and has since rejoined in the same grade.

As OIL had rejected his earlier application for VRS on the grounds that he has to be working with the company to make the request,Sibal applied afresh for VRS after joining back. However,even this application was kept in abeyance pending completion of vigilance probe. This prompted Sibal to go on long leave,sources said.

S K Srivastava,Director (Operations) at OIL and former deputy Director General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has already taken additional charge as head of DGH till April 30,2010.

Despite repeated attempts,Sibal could not be reached for comments.

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Charges of conflict of interest were levelled against him as the DGH office in Noida on the outskirts of the national capital was rented from a company that was a contractor for DGH. Also he lived in a rented house owned by a firm that subsequently was awarded oil blocks.

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