CBI closes JSPL coal-to-liquid project inquiry

CBI has closed its enquiry into allocation of additional coal block to Jindal Steel and Power Limited for the coal-to-liquid project in which former Prime Minister Manmohan Sing was reportedly examined.
Sources said the closure report into the preliminary enquiry (PE) has been submitted to the Supreme Court. But there was no official confirmation whether Singh was examined in the case, while he was summoned as accused in the Talabira coal block allocation case.
They said the agency could not gather enough prima facie material to convert the inquiry into an FIR, resulting in its closure.
"As per directions of the Supreme Court of India, CBI is not in a position to share any information relating to inquiry investigations in coal cases," CBI spokesperson said.

The agency had sent its recommendation to the Supreme Court in March which is seized of various coal block allocation cases.
The sources said PE was registered on the allegations that while applications were invited for West of Radhikapur but a promotional Ramachandi block was added to it later. The Ramachandi block was allocated to JSPL. The block lies close to another coal block which was already allocated to JSPL.

The Ramchandi block, which has estimated 1.5 billion tonnes of coal reserves, was allocated for ambitious coal-to-liquid project in February, 2009.
The block was deallocated by the UPA Government on February 17, 2014 on the grounds that the company failed to develop it.

After the de-allocation, the company had said it has made attempts for carrying out exploration at Amarkonda Murgadangal block since April, 2009 but could not do it due to "large amount of extremist/Naxal activities" and "illegal mining" supported by extremists/anti-social elements.