Probe into coal allocation registers its 11th case

CBI on Saturday registered a fresh case against a Delhi-based company for alleged misrepresentation of facts while applying for mines

Taking further its probe into the coal block allocation scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today registered a fresh case against a Delhi-based company for alleged misrepresentation of facts while applying for mines.

Sources said searches were conducted at 10 places in Delhi, Ghaziabad (UP), Faridabad and Narwana (both in Haryana) and Raipur (Chhattisgarh) at offices and factory of Pushp Steel and Mining, residential premises of its directors Atul Jain and Sanjay Jain and the premises of sister concerns and group companies. They said the new FIR takes the total number of cases in the coal allocation probe to 11. Sources alleged the company had got mining lease on the basis of a recommendation from Chhattisgarh.

This was despite having no experience and lacking enough capital.

Sources said the company and directors have been booked for alleged criminal conspiracy to cheating and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. "The allegations related to getting Brahmapuri coal blocks allocated on the basis of misrepresentations and false claims in the applications, presentations and connivance/lack of due diligence on part of unknown others," a CBI spokesperson said.