Naveen Jindal grilled in coal allocation case

New Delhi: The CBI has questioned industrialist and former Congress parliamentarian Naveen Jindal in connection with its probe into a 2014 case registered by the agency against Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) among others for alleged cheating and corruption. According to sources Jindal appeared before the CBI at its headquarters here on Monday and he was quizzed for nearly five hours. This was the 36th FIR filed by the central probe agency in 2014 in connection with its probe into coal blocks allocation scam.

This case was registered against Jindal Stripes Limited, JSPL and unknown public officials for alleged criminal conspiracy and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sources said. Soon after registering the case, the agency carried out searches at four locations in Raigarh and Chhattisgarh. The case pertains to allocation of Gare Palma IV/1 coal block to Jindal Strips Limited and JSPL.

“Allegations pertain to irregular mining lease beyond the approved area, excess coal mining, sale of coal, sale of coal fines and rejects, and irregular consumption of coal,” the CBI FIR said.

The Gare-Palma IV/1 captive coal mining block covering 7.03 sq km in Mand-Raigad and with geological reserves of 124 million tonnes, was allocated under captive dispensation to Jindal Strips Ltd in Mand-Raigarh for the end-use of sponge iron production on June 20, 1996.

The case was the outcome of a preliminary enquiry filed on September 26, 2012 looking into the allocation of coal blocks during the period 1993-2005.