 "Coalgate: Dasari Narayana Rao quizzed by CBI")
Former Coal Minister Dasari Narayana Rao was today questioned by CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of Talabira-II coal block in which Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parakh are accused.
Rao was summoned to the CBI headquarters this morning and quizzed about the allocation of Talabira-II coal block at Odhisa to Hindalco despite the screening committee giving it to Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Neyveli Lignite Limited.
66-year-old Rao, a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh, was Minister of State for Coal between 2004 to 2006 and in his second term from 2006 to 2008.
Rao, who has been Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2012, was not immediately available for comments.
Rao along with his former Coal Minister Shibu Soren has been accused by Parakh in his book on coal scam as those responsible for scuttling reforms in the Coal minsitry.
CBI is likely to question Parakh this week as the agency has finished examining top executives of the Rs 2.4 lakh crore Birla company in connection with the allocation.
However, no decision to summon the group's chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has been taken so far, the sources said.
CBI had registered a case naming 46-year-old Birla, Parakh and unknown officials of Hindalco and coal ministry last year under various sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy and corruption for alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks nine years back.
The probe in the case gained momentum after the agency took written answers from T K A Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in connection with entire coal scam especially on Talabira-II.
Nair had denied any wrong doing in allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco. Registering of a case against Birla and Parakh was criticized by India Inc and former bureaucrats.
A decision on filing a closure report or a charge sheet will be taken by the CBI after completing the investigations in the case, the sources said.
Rao was summoned to the CBI headquarters this morning and quizzed about the allocation of Talabira-II coal block at Odhisa to Hindalco despite the screening committee giving it to Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) Neyveli Lignite Limited.
66-year-old Rao, a Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh, was Minister of State for Coal between 2004 to 2006 and in his second term from 2006 to 2008.
Rao, who has been Rajya Sabha member from 2000 to 2012, was not immediately available for comments.
Rao along with his former Coal Minister Shibu Soren has been accused by Parakh in his book on coal scam as those responsible for scuttling reforms in the Coal minsitry.
CBI is likely to question Parakh this week as the agency has finished examining top executives of the Rs 2.4 lakh crore Birla company in connection with the allocation.
However, no decision to summon the group's chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla has been taken so far, the sources said.
CBI had registered a case naming 46-year-old Birla, Parakh and unknown officials of Hindalco and coal ministry last year under various sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy and corruption for alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks nine years back.
The probe in the case gained momentum after the agency took written answers from T K A Nair, Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in connection with entire coal scam especially on Talabira-II.
Nair had denied any wrong doing in allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco. Registering of a case against Birla and Parakh was criticized by India Inc and former bureaucrats.
A decision on filing a closure report or a charge sheet will be taken by the CBI after completing the investigations in the case, the sources said.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%