The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) may send a letter rogatory to Malaysia to seek details regarding a Malaysian private firm in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in the allocation of a Chhattisgarh coal block in 2008 to a Chennai-based firm.
The agency’s probe found that the Chennai-based firm, RKM Limited, had allegedly misrepresented facts on its net worth to be considered eligible for the allocation, by claiming the net worth of its Malaysian business partner as its own. “The firm’s net worth at the time of its application was not more than `30 crore. But it claimed around `2,700 crore as its net worth by adding the worth of the Malaysian business group,” said the source. “For using the net worth of the Malaysian firm, the latter should have been given a stake in it before the allocation. We may send a formal request to Malaysia to get details,” said the source. The Chennai firm has rejected any allegation of wrongdoing, though HT could not contact its spokesperson despite several attempts.
In a separate probe, CBI found that certain coal ministry officials had allegedly connived with Jindal Steel Private Limited (JSPL), headed by former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, in allowing it to illegally mine nearly three times more coal than permitted. Denying the allegations, a JSPL spokesperson said the production schedules were based on the guidelines mentioned under Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
{{/usCountry}}In a separate probe, CBI found that certain coal ministry officials had allegedly connived with Jindal Steel Private Limited (JSPL), headed by former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, in allowing it to illegally mine nearly three times more coal than permitted. Denying the allegations, a JSPL spokesperson said the production schedules were based on the guidelines mentioned under Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.
{{/usCountry}}CBI awaiting law ministry nod
New Delhi: CBI on Thursday told a special court that it was awaiting the law ministry’s nod to file an appeal in a coal scam case in which the Delhi high court had quashed charges framed against Prakash Industries Ltd (PIL) and its director. CBI said the file recommending an appeal against the high court’s order was pending before the ministry of law.
Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar told CBI that it should pursue the matter with the ministry to reach a decision. HTC