The CBI which is investigating the coalgate scam is now set to question at least four former senior officials of the coal ministry and various state governments who reportedly joined private companies soon after their retirement.
According to sources, the role of at least two former officials of the coal ministry is under scanner of the agency in connection with the coalgate scam. "The CBI is also probing the role of two former chief secretaries, who attended meetings of the screening committee and recommended allocation of captive coal blocks to at least four private companies in their respective states," sources said.
Sources further said, “Role of these officials is under the scanner in connection with allocations of several coal blocks including, Rampia & Dip Side of Rampia (Orissa), Fatehpur East (Chhattisgarh), Rajhara north-central and eastern (Jharkhand), Patrapara, Madanpur (north), Radhikapur (west) and Mandakini.” They will soon be called for questioning, sources added.
The agency officials also suspect irregularities in the allocations of 40 captive coal blocks made in 2008. “Probe has revealed that maximum eight coal blocks were allocated by the screening committee on January 17, 2008.” The agency is scrutinising applications of private companies who were allocated coal blocks in 2008, sources added. The agency may register cases against at least two companies which were allocated coal blocks in 2008, sources said.
The CBI on September 4 had registered multiple FIRs against five companies for alleged criminal conspiracy to get coal blocks by allegedly fudging their net worth figures and misrepresentation of facts. The agency named 20 directors of the private companies and unknown government officials in its five FIRs filed in connection with the scam. The companies which had been booked by the CBI include JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited-Nagpur, JAS Infrastructure Capital Private Limited (Kolkata), AMR Iron and Steel Ltd (Nagpur), Navbharat Power Private Limited (Hyderabad) and Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Limited (Kolkata).