Government rejects CBI plea to grill ex-coal secy

The central government has rejected a request of the CBI to question former coal secretary HC Gupta — now a member of Competition Commission of India— as part of its probe into alleged irregularities related to coal blocks allocation scam.

The central government has rejected a request of the CBI to question former coal secretary HC Gupta — now a member of Competition Commission of India— as part of its probe into alleged irregularities related to coal blocks allocation scam.

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The Ministry of Corporate Affairs rejected the agency’s request last week despite the latter’s assertion that examining Gupta — who was the coal secretary between 2006 and 2009, a period under its coal scam probe examination— was essential. The agency will now inform the court about the decision of the government for not allowing Gupta, a 1971 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, to be questioned to seek further directives, said a CBI source. Gupta could not be contacted.

The agency has so far registered 11 FIR s related to alleged irregularities in the allotment of coal blocks between 2006 and 2009. During this period, 68 coal blocks were allotted to 151 private firms.