Coal scam: Why Birla, Jindal are out of CVC probe

The cases linked to coal block allocation filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and Lok Sabha member Naveen Jindal are not among those being referred to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), said a senior official. 

He added, “There is no divergence of view within the CBI in these case."

According to sources, a majority of the 20 cases where the CBI officials are split on whether there should be a chargesheet or closure are still in preliminary enquiry stage.  

Last week, a Supreme Court bench headed by judge R M Lodha had directed the investigating agency to place the documents of all 20 cases, where there is divergence of view among CBI officials, before the CVC within five days.  

The corruption watchdog is expected to file its report in four weeks.

The apex court had asked the chief vigilance commissioner and two other commissioners to suggest whether the cases could be closed or if the CBI should go ahead with the filing of chargesheets.

The agency shared the latest status report on the coal allocation scam with the CVC officials on Monday.  

So far, the CBI has registered 18 first information reports (FIRs) in the coal block allocation scam.

Of these, the agency has closed two cases — one against Kamal Sponge and Iron and the other against Vikash Steel — on the ground that no substantial evidence was found to implicate the two companies.  

The agency has also filed two chargesheets in the coal scam including, the one against AMR Iron and Steel, its directors Congress’ member of Parliament Vijay Darda and his son Devender Darda, and the second against Navbharat Steel.  

The CBI has sought two more weeks from the Supreme Court in the last hearing to wrap up its investigations in two more FIRs.  

CBI director Ranjit Sinha had earlier told Business Standard that the investigative agency would wrap up the probe in all the coal cases by the end of April.