The CBI is likely to register a preliminary inquiry within two days in connection with the missing files related to the coal block allocations. The decision came after a crucial meeting of investigators with the coal ministry officials on Thursday.
Highly-placed CBI sources said the coal ministry had sent a fresh letter on Wednesday giving details of the files available with it and urged the CBI to consider it as a complaint on the basis of which a probe can be initiated.
Sources said the CBI team on Thursday met coal ministry officials, where both sides reconciled that 15-18 files related to coal block allocations, which include minutes of screening committee, remained untraceable.
Sources said that based on this input it was decided to initiate a probe in connection with the missing files but the agency preferred to start with a preliminary inquiry which could be converted into a regular case if some evidence of malafide is found.
During the analysis of documents and interactions with the coal ministry officials, the CBI has found that some of the crucial files are not in existence. The sources said one such case is of the files related to minutes of the 26th screening committee, which are not available in the ministry and despite best efforts only the draft minutes could be traced in the ministry.
They said the agency will look into the issue of such missing files as decisions have been taken referring to the minutes of the screening committee which are said to be not in existence. On Monday, the coal ministry had sent documents along with the list of files and records.
The preliminary analysis had shown not all files sought by the agency were provided by the ministry.
It can be recalled that the CBI is looking for crucial records related to ongoing 13 cases filed by it in connection with the coal blocks allocation scam which include the letter of Congress MP Vijay Darda recommending coal block for AMR Iron and Steel, one of the accused companies. Last week, the CBI had listed 150 files and documents as “not received”.