Close on the heels of registering Preliminary Enquiries to probe the missing coal files, the CBI has begun probe into the issue with the agency examining some officials on Tuesday.
“The CBI on Tuesday examined some of the custodians of the missing files to track the details relating to the movement of the files and the last person who handled it,” a CBI official said.
The movement of files is registered in Government departments. The agency is examining the register relating to the 2006-09 period to ascertain the last desk where the missing files were received.
Out of the 29 files/documents requisitioned by the CBI earlier this month, about 15-18 files have not been traced by the Coal Ministry. These files pertain to the 2006-09 period.
About 60 missing files relate to the 1993-2005 period for which a separate PE has been registered. The agency had on Friday registered two PEs, one relating to the 1993-2005 period and the other for the period between 2006-09.
The CBI will soon examine the officials who were responsible for checking the file/applications seeking coal blocks. The Coal Ministry recently gave a list of the officials who were responsible for scrutinising the applications seeking coal blocks, agency sources said.