Ministry fails to submit missing file list to CBI

Coal ministry did not submit a detailed report on the missing files related to the coal allocation scam probe for it to initiate appropriate inquiry, as demanded by the CBI on September 2.

Coal ministry did not submit a detailed report on the missing files related to the coal allocation scam probe for it to initiate appropriate inquiry, as demanded by the CBI on September 2.

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“The agency is examining the latest set of documents received from the ministry, which contains a status-report of files that are either available with or can be accessed from other agencies and ministries, and some concerned records,” said a CBI source.

“It appears that some records or files are still missing but the ministry did not submit a list of such documents despite our request. They send the list later,” said the source.

The CBI’s final list of missing files, which was sent to the ministry via the attorney general on September 2, had listed the missing files under 29 categories.

“The CBI communication had said the ministry was required to hand over the missing files within a fortnight, or else, file a report on the missing files with the CBI for appropriate inquiry that may include proceeding with a destruction of evidence case,” said the source.

CBI’s probe is getting hampered in at least six of its cases filed against private firms for alleged irregularities as 12 files related to them are missing. Among the missing files are “record of recommendation letters issued by Congress’s Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda for allocation of the Bander coal block in Maharashtra to AMR Iron and Steel Private Limited,” said the source.