CBI files progress report into coal scam case involving MP

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday filed a progress report of investigation it has conducted in coal block allocation case involving a Rajya Sabha MP - a case in which the agency had earlier sought closure but the court had not agreed.

The report was filed before Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar who posted the matter for Jan 29.

The CBI earlier filed a closure report in the case that involves Rajya Sabha member Vijay Darda, among others. Refusing to accept the closure report, the court Nov 20 asked CBI to further probe the matter and file progress report.

The CBI had filed the closure report after an initial report 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 people.

Filing the closure report, the agency had said that no undue benefit was given to JLD Yavatmal Energy by the coal ministry in allocating the blocks and nothing substantial has emerged to establish cheating or criminal conspiracy by the government officials and the company's directors.

The probe agency earlier in its first information report alleged that JLD Yavatmal had wrongfully concealed previous allocation of four coal blocks to its group companies in 1999-2005.

But in its closure report, the CBI had said even if this information had been revealed, it would not have been disqualified the company from getting the coal blocks.