Coal Projects Appraisal and Coal Projects Appraisal and Monitoring sections handled the coal block allocation work from 1993-2002
Coal Allocation Section handled the work during 2003-05 and Coal Allocation-I section from 2006 onwards
CBI will begin examination of the officials once it receives the list of names from the Coal Ministry
CBI will try to ascertain if there was any malafide on the part of Ministry officials
The CBI had on Friday registered two Preliminary Enquiries (PEs) to probe the missing files, one for the 1993-2005 period and the other for the 2006-09 tenure.
Between 1993 and 2005, 45 coal blocks were allocated to as many applicants. There was no cut-off date for making application during this period. The CBI has registered a PE to look into possible irregularities in coal block allocation during the period but has not registered any regular case or FIR. Between 2006 and 2009, 155 coal blocks were allocated to 100 companies, including a number of dubious firms. The CBI is continuing with the PE and carrying out investigations of 13 FIRs registered as part of this enquiry.
Agency sources said the CBI has already gathered the list of Coal Ministry officials assigned with the job of checking eligibility and completeness of the applications submitted by applicant firms who applied for coal blocks between 2006 and 2009, a period when the Coal Ministry was under the charge of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Coal Ministry, sources said, furnished the list of officials last month to the CBI, who were responsible for checking the applications along with the report/remarks of the Ministry after checking the applications.
Sources said the agency will try to ascertain if there was any malafide on the part of Ministry officials for the files going missing. The sleuths will also seek to gather evidence so that the PEs could be converted into regular cases.
The nature of files that have gone missing prima facie indicates there was a criminal conspiracy or at the least failure in maintaining proper records of decisions taken with respect to the allocation of coal blocks, sources said.
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CBI to go after custodians
of missing coal files now
The Coal Ministry is said to have communicated to the CBI that some of the files requisitioned by the latter are not in existence.
Elaborating the point, the sources said while the draft minutes of the 26th Screening Committee meeting have been available, the final minutes have not been traced.
This file is crucial as it formed the basis for allocations from 2006-09. likewise, the draft minutes and revised draft minutes of 34th Screening Committee meeting (September 22, 2006) have not been traced. Decision on coal block allocation to Grace Industries, an accused company, was taken at this meeting. Further, only the report of the financial experts of Coal India ltd on the financial strength of JlD Yavatmal ltd (promoted by Congress MP Vijay Darda) and Green Infrastructure, both accused companies, are missing from the file.
In the same manner, only the recommendation letter issued by Darda for allocation of coal block to AMR Iron and Steel Pvt ltd and forwarded by the PMO to the Coal Ministry is said to be missing even as the agency has the relevant file pertaining to the allocation.