Vijay Darda wrote to PMO for coal block allocation to JLD: CBI

Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda had written letters to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) and others for allocation of coal blocks to firm JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd in which he allegedly was one of the directors, CBI on Thursday told a special court.

CBI told this to the court which was hearing arguments on the closure report in a coal scam case in which the agency had earlier registered an FIR against JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd, its directors Vijay Darda, his son Devendra Darda, Rajendra Darda, Manoj Jayaswal, Anand Jayaswal and Abhishek Jayaswal and other unknown persons. "Vijay Darda, being an MP, wrote various letters to various departments, including the PMO, for allocation of coal blocks to JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd. He himself was a party (being one of its director)," the agency told Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case also placed the letters written by Vijay Darda before the judge, who perused it. During the day's proceeding, CBI filed its revised report before the court and placed on record additional documents related to the case.

The court, after hearing the arguments, fixed the matter for further proceedings on November 5. "Revised report has been filed. Part arguments heard. Put up for consideration on November 5," the judge said.
CBI had lodged an FIR in the case against six individuals, the firm and unknown persons under sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

The agency, however, had later on filed a closure report in the case saying that no undue benefit was given to M/s JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd by the Coal Ministry in allocation of coal blocks to it.