Coal block allotment: CBI deepens probe

It also emerged that the maximum number of allocations were made in 2007 and 2008 during which 15 and 16 coal blocks were allotted.

The CBI has also sought the list of the private companies,which were allocated the blocks and would now examine their role. It is alleged that the firms were 8216;ineligible8217; for allocation and some of them used front companies as well. The CBI has also roped in its state units from the four states Orrisa,West Bengal,Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh where most of the allotments were made.

A perusal of the records received from the Ministry of Coal has revealed that these allocations to private companies were done also on the recommendations of the state government. It is after these recommendations that screening committee gave a nod for the allocation, explained a top CBI official.

Earlier,the CBI had only sought the details from 2006 but after examining the records,they learnt that some of the private companies have been receiving coal blocks from 2005. Said a senior official,The documents are being examined and we will soon question the officials of coal ministry. The members of screening committee will also be examined during the probe and we will seek their assistance to understand the allocations to private companies.

Sleuths focused between 2006 to 2009 after a complaint filed by BJP MP Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Ahir to the Central Vigilance Commission CVC in March this year. CVC referred the complaint to CBI asking to examine the role of private companies and government officials.

Javadekar had listed more than 100 companies, which received coal blocks between 2006-09.