The CBI on Friday grilled former Coal Secretary PC Parakh for the second consecutive day in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of Odisha-based Talabira-II coal block to Hindalco in 2005.
Parakh was examined for nearly eight hours on Thursday during which he was given number of queries relating to allocation process and reasons for changing his Screening Committee decision, which had rejected Hindalco’s application.
During the second round of questioning that lasted about six hours, Parakh is learnt to have been further grilled on the issues related to the rejection of the coal block to Hindalco and subsequent U-turn in granting the block to the Aditya Birla Group company.
He is also learnt to have been asked about the meeting he had with Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla before reversing his own decision relating to the original award of Talabira II coal block to Public Sector Undertaking Neyveli lignite Corporation and later favouring the private firm.
Apart from Parakh, Birla and Hindalco are also accused in the case. Birla is yet to be questioned in the case.