CBI awaits important files from 4 ministries in coalgate scam

Continuing with its investigation in the coalgate scam, CBI is presently awaiting important files from four ministries namely coal, power, cement and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Commerce and Industry ministry.  “For the last three weeks, we are waiting for crucial files which will reveal the entire process through which the allocations happened, including how applications from private firms were processed,” revealed CBI. However, CBI has rejected any possibility of “intentional” delay on the part of concerned authorities as the agency has already received most of the key files from them.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had recently revealed that Coalgate scam is estimated at around Rs 1200 crore. In the coal scam, it is alleged that government has allocated coal blocks to private companies in an irregular manner instead of public auction, during 2004-09. The agency is also examining the role of four state governments namely West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for signing MoUs with the private companies.

According to CBI, the documents of as many as 1,000 companies has been scanned and the agency has found that more than 500 companies are allegedly involved in the scam who although got coal linkage and signed fuel supply agreement, misused it to make fortunes.

The CBI has set 14 teams within its economic offences wing (EOW) to probe the documents pertaining to allocation of coal blocks. Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had presented a report on the similar issue.