Coal scam: Court directs CBI to furnish CVC's reference

New Delhi, Feb 3: CBI on Tuesday, Feb 3 was directed by a special court to produce the original reference made by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in allocation of Chattisgarh Fathepur coal block.

The agency had registered a case against M/s Prakash Industries Limited and others in coal blocks allocation scam.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar also asked the probe agency to place the preliminary enquiry report before Feb 19.

"Arguments on the final report have been further heard. It has been directed that the original reference made by the CVC besides the preliminary enquiry file be produced on the next date of hearing," the court said.During the hearing, CBI told the court that FIR was lodged on the basis of a preliminary enquiry conducted by it on the reference of the CVC.

The court was hearing the matter in which CBI had filed a closure report, saying no prosecutable evidence could be found during its investigation in the case.

CBI had earlier lodged an FIR against Prakash Industries Ltd and various others in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of Fatehpur coal block.

According to CBI, the Fatehpur coal block was allocated jointly to Prakash Industries Ltd and one other company by the 35th screening committee.

The FIR in the case was lodged against Prakash Industries Ltd, its three top officials, some officials of the ministry of coal and others alleging that the firm had misrepresented its net worth while applying for the Fatehpur coal block.

The FIR was registered in the case for offences punishable under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) of the IPC and under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The agency had alleged that the company had misrepresented facts relating to its net worth, while the screening committee deliberately did not follow the guidelines and showed undue favour to the firm.

PTI