Coal Block Scam: CBI files final probe report in Hindalco case

Feb 19, New Delhi

CBI Thursday filed its final probe report in a coal block allocation case allegedly involving former Coal Secretary P C Parakh, industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, Hindalco and others before the special court which will consider it on 11th of next month.

Senior public prosecutor V K Sharma told the court that the agency has completed the investigation and one more witness has been examined during the course of probe and they are filing his statement in a sealed cover.

The court said that it would now consider the CBI’s final report in the case and if required it will seek clarifications from the agency.

The case pertains to allocation of Talabira II coal block in Orissa to M/s Hindalco in 2005. The CBI, in its FIR, had named Parakh, Kumar Mangalam Birla, M/s Hindalco Industries Ltd and other unknown persons for the offences under section 120-B i.e. criminal conspiracy and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

However, later, the agency had filed a closure report in the court which it had refused to accept it. The court, in its December 16 order, had directed the agency to examine former Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and some top PMO officials, including then Principal Secretary T K A Nair and then private secretary B V R Subramanyam. The CBI had recorded the statement of Dr. Singh on 20th of last month.