The CBI, which is preparing to file chargesheets in the Coalgate scam, is likely to start questioning of senior officials of the coal and steel ministries in connection with its investigations into th
The CBI, which is preparing to file chargesheets in the Coalgate scam, is likely to start questioning of senior officials of the coal and steel ministries in connection with its investigations into the issue of missing files related to the scam. The agency on September 20 had registered two preliminary enquiries (PEs) to probe the missing files, one for the 1993-2005 period and the other for the 2006-09 period. Sources said, “CBI recently examined lower level officials of the coal ministry in connection with its probe into the missing files related to the captive coal block allocations. Examination of senior officials of the Coal and steel ministries in this regard is likely to start next week”. The CBI is also examining movements of the missing files, sought by the agency from the coal ministry, sources added. The agency is also ascertaining if files went missing at the behest of some interested persons as part of a conspiracy, they added. The missing files are allegedly hampering CBI’s coal scam probe, in which it has filed 13 cases so far. The CBI officials are also planning to seek clarifications from senior officials of the coal ministry in connection with the missing files related to the allocation of North Dhadu coal block to the Jharkhand Ispat Private Ltd. The agency is planning to register two more cases against the senior officials of the state-run Public Sector Units (PSUs) of Jharkhand and Chhattishgarh governments as part of its probe into the Coalgate scam. The allocation of coal blocks to private companies for captive use started in 1993 when Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 was amended with the objective of attracting private investments in specified end uses such as power, cement and steel to meet the requirements of the growing economy.
