Coal block allocation case: Impleadment application filed in SC seeking directions for CBI to conclude investigation

An impleadment application was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday in the ongoing coal block allocation case in which an inquiry has been pending against Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

The application sought direction to the CBI to present the entire file noting in the case registered on March 26, 2014, in order to ascertain the reasons for the delay in finalisation of the case.

The petitioner Vaibhav Verma says that Patnaik was questioned by CBI.

The application seeks direction to the CBI to expedite the investigation of the case "RC 22/2014 E 0007" relating to MS Central Collieries Co. Ltd. and Ors. (Nagpur) since it has been five years since registration and the case is yet to reach its local conclusion. 

Allegations in the Central Collieries case are those of forgery, criminal breach of trust and selling coal in open market against the concept of captive allocation of coal mines for a specified end-use product, said the application.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the application that Central Collieries was awarded the Takli-Jena-Bellora coal field in Maharashtra in 1998, even before its registration and Patnaik was the Minister of Mines at that time.

"The allegations are very serious in nature pertaining to Tekli Jena Bellora(s) Coal block was allocated to a company i.e. M/s Central Collieries Co. Ltd. & Ors. (Nagpur) at a time when the company was not even incorporated. The information from the register of companies Mumbai reflects that the company was registered on 5th January 1999. Allegations are of the nature of forgery, criminal breach of trust and selling coal in open market against the concept of captive allocation of coal mines for a specified end-use product" the application said.

Furthermore, the application stated that there was an abnormal delay in the case because of the non-examination of Naveen Patnaik which itself is unexplained till date and inexcusable. However, now it is learned that Patnaik has already been interrogated by the CBI on November 25, 2017.

After interrogation of Patnaik, there is no reason for delay, however, as evident again there is delay of almost two years since interrogation of Patnaik and the CBI is yet to complete its investigation and has failed to take any concrete steps despite the fact that Supreme Court is monitoring the coal block cases, the plea said.

CBI is investigating the allocations of captive coal fields between 1993 and 2010 as part of a Supreme Court-monitored probe.