CBI may file case on missing coal files

The CBI is planning to file a case on missing coal files after the Coal Ministry failed to provide all documents sought by the probe agency for investigation into block allocations.

Officials of the CBI and the Coal Ministry are likely to meet soon to iron out their differences and decide the future course of action. The ministry officials maintain that more than 90 per cent of the documents sought by the CBI have been provided.

They said of the 157 applications for coal blocks, 139 could be traced. Some of them have already been handed over to the CBI. The officials, however, were evasive on questions on files and documents still missing.

The Coal Ministry on Monday sent a tranche of documents along with a list of files and records which could be traced. A preliminary analysis by the CBI revealed that the ministry did not provide all files sought by the agency.

Among the missing documents are minutes of the 26th screening committee. The ministry had earlier said it was trying to source the final minutes from other ministries and PSUs which attended the meeting. Draft minutes are, however, available.

Also missing are a letter sent by Jharkhand Ispat Pvt Ltd, a presentation made by Rathi Steel and Power and applications and annexure of SPS Sponge Iron Ltd for the Radhikapur east coal block. Sources said a letter written by Congress’ Vijay Darda could not be traced as well.

The CBI officials said they would take a call on registering a case on the missing files soon. The agency had listed at least 150 files and documents to be acquired from the Coal Ministry, which were dubbed “untraceable” earlier.