CBI files another status report on coal scam probe

The CBI, probing the criminality dimension in the allocation of coal blocks from 1993 to 2009, Monday filed another status report on the progress of its investigation.

The report, filed in a sealed cover, would be considered by the apex court bench of Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph Wednesday.

The court will Wednesday hold further hearing into public interest litigations (PILs) by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma and NGO Common Cause, seeking cancellation of the coal blocks which they say were allocated in breach of law.

Though the status report has been filed in a sealed cover, sources said the probe agency has told the court that it has filed 16 regular complaints and five preliminary enquiries.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it is learnt, has told the court that in a number of cases it did not find any criminality in the allocation of coal blocks.

The agency filed the status report as the apex court is monitoring the probe.

While the court is looking into the irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks, the criminality angle is being inquired into by the CBI.

In order to remove hurdles that the agency may face in getting government sanction to investigate its officials, the apex court in its Dec 12 order had said there was no need for prior sanction of the central government to launch an inquiry or investigation against a public servant under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a court-monitored CBI investigation.