The CBI probe into Coalgate scam has revealed that officials of the ministry of coal allegedly did not scrutinise documents of two Kolkata-based companies, JAS Infrastructure Capital Private Limited and Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Limited, regarding false claims made by them and allocated captive coal blocks to the accused companies in Jharkhand. Both companies have been booked by the CBI in its FIRs filed on September 4.
Probe by the agency has revealed that JAS Infrastructure Capital Private Limited and its group companies had previously been allocated seven blocks between 1999 and 2005. “However, the accused company concealed the fact of previous allocations of coal blocks to its groups companies with an object to avoid scrutiny at the time of filing application for fresh allocations,” sources alleged.
“The agency sleuths further found that officials of the coal ministry did not scrutinise documents of the company and thus facilitated it in getting undue advantage in allocation of the Mahuagarhi coal block in Jharkhand,” sources said. It has also been found that the accused company was allocated coal block in Jharkhand without having recommendation of the state government, sources added.
As far as allocation of Rajhara North (central and eastern) coal block in Jharkhand to Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Limited is concerned, sources said, the company did not have recommendation of the ministry of steel. “Probe has revealed that the then chief secretary of Jharkhand, who attended 36th Screening Committee meeting on July 3, 2008, had signed minutes of the committee. The committee recommended allocation of Rajhara North (central and eastern) coal block in favour of Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd,” sources said. Role of certain officials of the coal ministry is under the scanner of the CBI in this regard, sources said.
Both companies have been booked for alleged criminal conspiracy to get coal blocks by allegedly fudging their net worth figures and misrepresentation of facts. The agency has named directors of both companies and unknown government officials in its FIRs filed in connection with the scam.