Coal blocks case: CBI grills Naveen Jindal for 5 hrs

New Delhi: The CBI has questioned industrialist and former Congress Parliamentarian Naveen Jindal in connection with its probe into a 2014 case registered by the agency against Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL), among others, for alleged cheating and corruption.

As per sources, Jindal appeared before the CBI at its headquarters on Monday and was quizzed for nearly five hours. This was the 36th FIR filed by CBI in 2014 in connection with its probe into the coal blocks allocation scam.

This case was registered against Jindal Stripes, JSPL and unknown public officials for alleged criminal conspiracy and cheating under the IPC and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sources said.

Soon after registering the case, the agency carried out searches at four locations in Raigarh and Chhattisgarh. The case pertains to allocation of Gare Palma IV/1 coal block to Jindal Strips and JSPL.

“Allegations pertain to irregular mining lease beyond the approved area, excess coal mining, sale of coal, sale of coal fines and rejects and irregular consumption of coal in new extension plants,” the CBI FIR said. The Gare-Palma IV/1 captive coal block covering 7.03 sq km in

Mand-Raigad and with geological reserves of 124 million tonnes, was allocated under captive dispensation to Jindal Strips for the end-use of sponge iron production on June 20, 1996. The case was the outcome of a preliminary enquiry filed on September 26, 2012 looking into the allocation of coal blocks during the period between 1993 and 2005.