NEW DELHI : Exercising its right of superintendence over CBI, CVC has started scrutinizing documents related to allocation of all coal blocks to central and state public sector undertakings and private companies.
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which was asked to give its opinion on closure reports filed by CBI in Preliminary Enquiries (PEs), has already submitted its findings on 25 such PEs.
The apex court had sought the assistance of CVC in view of divergence of opinion between the investigating officer and superiors over their closure reports.
The Commission has opposed closure of several of these PEs in their findings submitted to the Supreme Court, official sources said.
Besides giving opinion on these cases, the CVC has also started scrutinising other coal block allocation files to ascertain whether it has missed the eye of CBI.
“We have received information and relevant documents related to remaining coal blocks from CBI. The Commission is scrutinizing them,” an official associated with the probe said.
According to the Coal Ministry, 195 coal blocks were allocated between 1993 and 2011.
CBI has registered 20 FIRs to probe alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks.
The apex court had on March 28 asked CVC to peruse the coal blocks allocation cases in which there was a difference of opinion within CBI on their closure.
CVC had examined CBI’s files on closure of 25 PEs. It had submitted its findings on 17 PEs to the Supreme Court on April 30 and on the remaining eight on May 9, the sources said.
The Commission has opposed closure of CBI PEs in a “substantial” number of cases in its reports submitted on May 9, the sources said.
Of the 17 PEs, CVC has recommended registration of regular cases on three enquiries, they said.
There were different views between investigating and supervising officers on closure of these 25 PEs.
The apex court’s direction to CVC had come following filing of two closure reports in March by CBI with regard to coal blocks cases. CBI’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ravi Kant, who supervises the coal blocks allocation-related probe, had favoured filing of charge sheets in them.
The court, while hearing coal block cases, had in late March asked CVC– comprising Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners–to give their suggestions whether the cases can be closed or CBI can go ahead with the filing of charge sheets.
Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar has sought to recuse himself from handling the cases of coal blocks allocation scam, saying he was once working with the Coal Ministry. (Agencies)