Coalgate: BJP leader named in CBI FIR

The coal block was allocated on September 1, 1999, during the BJP government's tenure.

“The coal block in the State of Jharkhand, was allegedly allocated though this did not fit into prescribed norms and extant guidelines for allocation of coal blocks for captive end use.

“It has been alleged that the private company, in conspiracy with public servants, managed to get the coal block with no clear cut end use project,” a CBI press release issued today said.

With this, CBI has so far registered 16 FIRs and three preliminary enquiries in coal blocks allocation scam.

A preliminary enquiry to examine the alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks during 1993-2005 was registered on reference from Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in September, 2012. These are the first two cases in that preliminary enquiry.

The CBI also conducted searches at nine locations in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhanbad, Bhopal and Narsinghpur (Madhya Pradesh).

The CBI officials have also found documents relating to transportation of coal for sale in open market, the sources said adding that further probe in the case was continuing.