Coal block allocations: AMR wants court to monitor CBI probe

Nagpur-based AMR Iron and Steel Pvt. Ltd., charge-sheeted with Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda and others in the coal block allocation case, Thursday requested a court here to monitor the ongoing CBI probe.

AMR told Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Madhu Jain that the investigating agency has not probed the matter properly.

In the plea filed by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, the firm said: "Monitor the investigation and pass necessary orders thereby directing the investigating officer to expedite the investigation and to conduct the investigation in a proper and effective manner, especially with reference to documents."

The advocate told the court that the charge-sheet was filed on the basis of "biased investigation" and if the case is investigated properly, then the FIR would have culminated into a cancellation report.

The firm said the CBI claimed that Darda had written a letter to the Prime Minister's Office in which he had allegedly stated that 370 acres of land was allotted to the firm by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) but no such land was allotted.

It also said allegations regarding the net worth of the company were also incorrect.

The court posted the matter for May 7 and asked the CBI to file a reply on the plea.

On the same date, the court will also decide on taking cognizance of the charge-sheet.

The CBI filed the charge-sheet March 27 against Congress's Rajya Sabha member Darda and AMR.

CBI sources said Darda and others have been booked under various charges dealing with criminal conspiracy, read with cheating, and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

AMR Iron and Steel Pvt. Ltd., its directors Manoj Jayaswal, Arvind Kumar Jayaswal, Ramesh Jayaswal and Devendra Darda, the son of Vijay Darda, were named as accused in the case.