CBI questions Abhijeet Group head Jayaswal

The CBI on Tuesday questioned Manoj Jayaswal, a key accused in the coal scam and chairman of Nagpur-based Abhijeet Group.

The CBI on Tuesday questioned Manoj Jayaswal, a key accused in the coal scam and chairman of Nagpur-based Abhijeet Group.

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He is an accused in three of the five FIRs filed by the CBI in the scam.

Jayaswal, who held the directorship in JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited, AMR Iron and Steel Private Limited and JAS Infrastructure Capital Private Limited, arrived in the CBI headquarters around 6.45pm and stayed till late in the night.

The probe agency has alleged that the three companies got fresh coal blocks by misrepresenting facts about earlier coal block allocations and their financial strength.

Union coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal has faced political heat due to his alleged proximity with Jayaswal. Jayaswal was examined by the CBI during its preliminary inquiry into the coal block allocation wherein he had denied any relationship with Jaiswal.

Sources disclosed that the CBI was formally interrogating Jayaswal on his relations with Jaiswal. Besides Jaiswal, his dealings with Maharashtra education minister Rajendra Darda and his Rajya Sabha MP brother Vijay Darda is also under scanner.

Jayaswal has been named as an accused in one of the FIRs along with the Dadras. The CBI plans to call the Darda brothers for questioning soon.