After 10-year-long marathon, CBI files case against RPG Group over coal scam
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh FIR in connection with the coal scam against RPG Group companies after a marathon 10-year-long preliminary inquiry, officials said on Wednesday. The agency has booked RPG Industries Limited, RPG Enterprises Limited, and CESC Limited in connection with alleged irregularities in a 27-year-old allocation process of the Sarisatoli, Tara, and Deocha Pachami blocks in West Bengal from 1993 to 1995.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had, on September 19, 2012, referred a complaint of the then Congress MP Sandeep Dixit and six other MPs, seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the allocation of 24 coal blocks during the 1993-2004 period, to the CBI, following which a preliminary inquiry was registered by the federal probe agency on September 26, 2012. The irregularities in the allocation of the blocks to RPG Industries, RPG Enterprises, and Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) Limited were mentioned in the complaint, the officials said.
The FIR, registered after nearly 10 years of the preliminary inquiry, alleged that RPG Industries had requested the coal ministry for captive mining blocks for power generation by CESC in 1992. The Ministry had shortlisted the Sarisatoli coal block for the purpose. Next year, CESC said the earmarked block was not sufficient to meet the needs of the Budge Budge and the Ballagarh thermal power stations and sought an adjacent coal block. The fourth screening committee meeting considered the request of the company and the Sarisatoli, Tara, and Deocha Pachami blocks were “tentatively identified” for Budge Budge and Ballagarh.
The CBI also said that RPG Industries attached two separate clearances while seeking the Mahan block for a project in Rajasthan’s Dholpur in May 1995. “Enquiry further revealed that the companies misrepresented the ownership/ development/ operation of proposed power plant for getting the coal block allocated. At one place it is mentioned that plant will be developed by RPG Industries, whereas at other places, it is mentioned that the power plant will be developed by CESC,” the FIR alleged.
The probe agency said that one of the clearances was in the name of RPG Enterprises, while another was in the name of CESC Limited, the officials said, adding that only CESC was in the business of power generation. The agency has also found many anomalies in the documents submitted by RPG Industries for the Mahan block, the officials said.
PGurus is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with all the latest news and views
For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.
- Subramanian Swamy approaches Supreme Court on Govt’s modification of 2G Scam Judgment to avoid auction of Satellite Spectrum - April 23, 2024
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visits Siachen. Reviews military preparedness - April 22, 2024
- Amit Shah’s shares in the Stock Market almost doubled in the past five years - April 21, 2024
