The CBI on Friday registered two preliminary enquiries (PE) to look into the issue of missing files on coal block allocations from the Ministry of Coal.
CBI sources said that the first PE has been registered to look into missing files on coal block allocations made from 1993 and 2005, while the second is for the period between 2006-09. Both PEs have been registered against unknown persons. CBI officials held a meeting with the Coal Ministry officials on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Coal Minister had sent a letter to the CBI giving details of the files available with it and urged the CBI to consider it as a complaint on the basis of which a probe can be initiated.
During the meeting, the officials of the Coal Ministry and CBI agreed on the fact that 15-18 files related to coal block allocations, which include minutes of screening committee, remained untraceable.
Hence, it was decided to initiate a probe in connection with the missing files, but the agency preferred to start with a preliminary enquiry which could be converted into a regular case if some evidence is found.
During the analysis of documents and interactions with the Coal Ministry officials, the CBI has found that some of the crucial files are not in existence.
The CBI decided to file two PE’s one for files related to coal block allocations made between 1993 to 2005, regarding which no case has been filed, and the second one for allocations made between 2006 to 2009, in which CBI had filed 13 cases.The CBI wants documents relating to coal block allocations made to companies against whom the agency has filed 13 cases.