Coal scam: Screening Commission not aware about misrepresentation by firm, says CBI

The CBI on Wednesday told a special court that the 36th screening committee, which had recommended coal block allocation to Madhya Pradesh-based company, was not aware that the firm had allegedly misrepresented facts for acquiring the block.

CBI, which has filed a closure report in the court in the FIR lodged against Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd and others, told Special Judge Bharat Parashar that during probe it was detected that the firm had misrepresented facts and disclosed its wrong net worth before the screening committee, set up for recommending allocation of coal blocks.

"In 2005 and 2006, advertisements were floated by the Ministry of Coal for inviting applications for coal block allocation. During the investigation, it was revealed that there was misrepresentation of facts. At that time, screening committee was not aware of it. Screening committee considered and allocated the block to Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd," senior public prosecutor V K Sharma told the court.

During the arguments on the issue of consideration of closure report filed by the agency, the prosecutor further said, "The firm was also accused of mentioning wrong net worth before the committee and it had inflated its net worth."

After the probe, CBI has filed a closure report saying they have not found sufficient evidence against the firm, which was allocated coal block in Madhya Pradesh, and its directors to proceed with the case.

During the day, the court heard part arguments on the closure report filed by CBI in the case in which Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd, its directors, Pavan Ahluwalia, Kamaljeet Ahluwalia, Prashant Ahluwalia, senior official Amit Goyal and some unknown government servants were named as accused for allegedly misrepresenting facts,including inflated net worth, to acquire coal blocks.

The court, after hearing part arguments, fixed the matter for further consideration on the closure report on October 13.