Coalscam: Court asks CBI to expeditiously file final report

A special court today directed CBI to expeditiously submit its final report of its further investigation in a coal blocks allocation scam case allegedly involving Vikash Metal and Power Limited (VMPL) and others.
The court said although it was the prerogative of the agency to file the final report but they must be directed to furnish it soon.
Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar observed this after the agency sought some time to submit the final report in the case pertaining to allocation of Moira and Madhujore (North and South) coal blocks in West Bengal to VMPL.
"Some more time has been sought to submit the final report. Undoubtedly it is the prerogative of the investigating agency to file the final report but they are certainly directed to expedite the same," the judge said.

The court has now fixed the matter for March 23 for filing progress report of further investigation.
CBI had earlier faced court's ire for delay in getting necessary approval to file final report of its further probe.

The court had also asked the investigating officer as to why the matter relating to grant of approval on the report was pending for so long.
Responding to it, the IO had said that file was pending with the higher authorities.
The court was hearing a case allegedly involving VMPL and its officials in which they are accused of making false claims relating to land allocation to get undue advantage in the coal block allocation. The FIR was registered in September 2012.

CBI, however, had later filed a closure report saying the charges against VMPL or its directors or even against the public servants could not be substantiated during the course of investigation.
The court, on October 15 last year, had refused to accept the closure report and passed an order asking CBI to further investigate the case.