Coal scam: No decision on sanction despite reminder, says CBI

Over five months have elapsed since records were sent to the competent authority, it said

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday informed a special court that “despite reminders”, no decision has been taken yet by the competent authority on the issue of grant of sanction to prosecute two public servants for their alleged involvement in two separate cases in the coal block allocation scam.

The agency informed Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar that in accordance with the court’s earlier order, it sent the entire relevant records of the case, along with statements of witnesses, to the competent authority way back in February but no decision had been taken on the issue.

The two public servants against whom sanction is awaited are — K S Kropha, then joint secretary in coal ministry, and K C Samaria, then director in Coal Allocation section of the ministry.

“It has been submitted (by CBI) that despite reminder, no decision on the said request for considering according of sanction has been taken by the competent authority,”The court noted.

‘During the hearing, CBI said that as over five months have elapsed since records were sent to the competent authority, it should be deemed that sanction has been granted.

"Senior public prosecutor says as the period of five months have elapsed since the records were sent to competent authority for according of sanction, so this court should conclude that the sanction for prosecution of public servants, as asked for, is deemed to have been granted," the judge said and fixed the matter for consideration tomorrow.

CBI also filed final report of its further investigation carried out in both the cases.

The court had earlier refused to accept closure reports filed by CBI in two separate cases lodged against two firms, JLD Yavatmal Energy Ltd and JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd, now known as JAS Infrastructure Capital Pvt Ltd, and others.