Inferior coal import scam: CBI registers two cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two cases regarding alleged supply of low quality imported Indonesian coal by a private company to different power plants of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and NTPC-SAIL Power Corporation Ltd. (NSPCL) respectively in conspiracy with certain officials of the concerned power plants.

The first case has been registered against Addl. G.M, Head of NTPC Power Plant Lab, Unchahar; Dy. Manager, NTPC Power plant Lab, Unchahar ; Indore based private company ; Singapore based company ; Jakarta Timur, (Indonesia) based company ; Kolkata based private company ; Chemist of Kolkata based private company and Unknown others.

It is alleged that the accused persons during the period 2011-13 entered into criminal conspiracy with an intention to cheat NTPC. In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, inferior quality non-cooking coal of Indonesian origin, shown to be of good quality on papers, was purchased from Indonesia by Singapore based company, overseas supplier and sister concern of Indore based group of companies.

Thereafter, the said inferior quality coal was brought to India in different vessels, vide different Bill of Entries, having gross calorific value, far less than technical specifications of the agreement and thus liable to be rejected, and was supplied to NTPC power plant at Unchahar, which has resulted in a wrongful loss ofRs. 23,16,38,574/- approximately.

The second case has been registered against Sr. Manager, Head of NSPCL Power Plant Lab, Bhilai; a Chemist, NSPCL Power Plant Lab, Bhilai ; Indore based private company ; Singapore based company ; Mumbai based private Laboratories ; Branch Head and other Asst. Manager (Marketing) both of Mumbai based private Laboratories and Unknown others.

It is alleged that the accused persons during the period 2011-13 entered into criminal conspiracy with an intention to cheat NSPCL, Bhilai Power Plant. In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, inferior quality non-cooking coal of Indonesian origin , shown to be of good quality on papers, was purchased from Indonesia by Singapore based company, overseas supplier and sister concern of Indore based group of companies.

Thereafter the said inferior quality coal was brought to India in different vessels , vide different Bill of Entries , having gross calorific value, far less than technical specifications of the agreement and thus liable to be rejected, and was supplied to NSPCL, Bhilai Power Plant, which has resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 92,91,55,588/- approximately.

Searches were conducted at office and residential premises of Addl. GM and Dy. Manager, both of NTPC Unchahar Distt,. Raibareily ; Sr. Manager and Chemist, both of NSPCL, Bhilai apart from various premises of a private company based at Indore and private laboratories based at Mumbai, Kolkata, Gandhidham and Jamnagar. Incriminating documents recovered during the searches are being scrutinized.

Further investigation is continuing.