By IANS,
New Delhi : The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Monday asked the CBI, probing coal block allocations made during 2006-09, to extend its investigations to cover all allocations since 1993, said agency sources.
“CVC asked that the agency investigate the system adopted by the state governments during allocation of coal blocks. The criteria and selected guidelines followed during the allocation must be probed,” a source said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was also asked to find out the system put in place for selection of companies for coal block allocation between 1993 to 2006, whether these guidelines were followed and how joint venture partners were selected.
The country’s top anti-corruption authority had earlier this year, tasked the CBI with probe into the allotment of coal blocks made between 2006 and 2009.
A preliminary enquiry to examine the irregularities, if any, in the allocation of coal blocks by coal ministry during 2006-09 was initiated on a reference from the CVC in June.
Official auditor, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had, in a recent report, estimated undue benefits of Rs.1.86 lakh crore to private firms due to allocation of coal blocks without auction.
The CBI had earlier this month registered two batches of FIRs (first information reports) against seven private companies, their directors and some public administrative officials and is understood to be filing a third batch of FIRs soon.
In its first batch of FIRs, the CBI registered five cases against five companies and their directors, including some public administrative officials, and conducted searches at 30 locations on Sep 4.
In the second phase, the agency booked two private companies, Vikash Metals and Powers Limited and Grace Industries, and their directors in two separate cases on Sep 22 and raided offices of the firms in seven cities.