The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a first information report accusing Congress MP Naveen Jindal and the former minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao of fraud and corruption in the allocation of a coal block. “It is alleged that two steel and iron companies based in Delhi — Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge — misrepresented facts to get coal blocks. Also, there was alleged investment in a Hyderabad-based company, Sowbhagya Media, by the group of companies,” a CBI spokesperson said.
The CBI conducted raids at 19 locations in Delhi and Hyderabad on Tuesday, including at Jindal’s residence at 6, Prithviraj Road, and his offices. The three companies have been named an accused in the CBI FIR along with Jindal Steel & Power Limited and Gagan Sponge, which were allotted Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand in 2008.
Jindal, who is in London, will be questioned on his return while Rao will be summoned for questioning soon though he has earlier been examined by the CBI in a separate case of coal block allocation, a senior official said.
Manu Kapoor, head of external affairs, Jindal Steel & Power Limited, said in a statement: “JSPL, as a law abiding company, is governed by a strong ethical code of conduct. This is an ongoing CBI investigation into coal block allocation. At this stage of investigation, JSPL is committed to fully co-operate with the CBI.”
Kapoor said homes of JSPL directors, former CFO and department MD Sushil Maroo, joint MD, Anand Goel and Rajeev Jain, director at Jindal Realty, were searched by CBI.
For the first time in the investigation into allocation of coal blocks, “unknown members of the government screening committee”, which decided on the allocations, have also been named an accused in an FIR.
Of the 250 coal block allotments made between 2004 and 2011, 154 were made during Rao’s tenure. A senior CBI official, on the condition of anonymity, said the agency suspected JSPL had paid what the person described as “bribes” to Rao in the form of an investment of Rs 2.25 crore made by Jindal Realty in Rao’s company.
The minister, in turn, prevailed upon screening committee members to allot the Amarkonda Murgadangal block to Jindal’s companies. This, despite Jindal’s companies misrepresenting specific facts pertaining to previous coal block allocations to them, says the CBI FIR.
The CBI conducted raids at 19 locations in Delhi and Hyderabad on Tuesday, including at Jindal’s residence at 6, Prithviraj Road, and his offices. The three companies have been named an accused in the CBI FIR along with Jindal Steel & Power Limited and Gagan Sponge, which were allotted Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand in 2008.
Jindal, who is in London, will be questioned on his return while Rao will be summoned for questioning soon though he has earlier been examined by the CBI in a separate case of coal block allocation, a senior official said.
Manu Kapoor, head of external affairs, Jindal Steel & Power Limited, said in a statement: “JSPL, as a law abiding company, is governed by a strong ethical code of conduct. This is an ongoing CBI investigation into coal block allocation. At this stage of investigation, JSPL is committed to fully co-operate with the CBI.”
Kapoor said homes of JSPL directors, former CFO and department MD Sushil Maroo, joint MD, Anand Goel and Rajeev Jain, director at Jindal Realty, were searched by CBI.
For the first time in the investigation into allocation of coal blocks, “unknown members of the government screening committee”, which decided on the allocations, have also been named an accused in an FIR.
Of the 250 coal block allotments made between 2004 and 2011, 154 were made during Rao’s tenure. A senior CBI official, on the condition of anonymity, said the agency suspected JSPL had paid what the person described as “bribes” to Rao in the form of an investment of Rs 2.25 crore made by Jindal Realty in Rao’s company.
The minister, in turn, prevailed upon screening committee members to allot the Amarkonda Murgadangal block to Jindal’s companies. This, despite Jindal’s companies misrepresenting specific facts pertaining to previous coal block allocations to them, says the CBI FIR.
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