The CBI is likely to book certain government officials under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act in connection with its probe related to Colgate scam. The agency, which is planning to register multiple FIRs into the scam, may initially book those private companies who allegedly fudged their financial status for allocation of coal blocks, sources said.
The government officials of coal-supplying states will be booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for alleged abuse of official position and criminal conspiracy, sources said. The agency is now trying to find out if any illegal gratification was taken by the government officials in return for allocation of coal blocks, sources added.
“The agency will also book government officials under sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” sources said.
The CBI, which has registered a “preliminary enquiry” (PE) to probe irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks, will soon file regular cases against certain private companies and government officials.
Sources further said, “Probe by the agency has revealed that a large number of private companies were allocated coal blocks on the basis of their financial status. The agency officials found that certain companies allegedly misrepresented their financial status for allocation of coal blocks”.
The agency has examined allocation of 65 coal blocks for which 1,418 applications were received by the coal ministry between 2006 and 2009.