CVC reviews CBI probes in coal scam, Mulayam DA cases

The probe into the Disproportionate Assets case against SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and the coal block allocations scam were among some of the issues discussed during a meeting between the chiefs of the CVC and CBI.

New Delhi: The probe into the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and the coal block allocations scam were among some of the issues discussed today during a meeting here between the chiefs of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and CBI.

Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar reviewed the progress in various corruption cases being handled by CBI and other matters related to the delay in grant of sanction for prosecution against government officials over allegations of graft, official sources said. The probe into the coal scam and the case against Mulayam and his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, too, were discussed during the meeting, they said. The CBI probe into the alleged acquisition of disproportionate assets by the Yadavs may be headed for a closure with investigators saying they have not been able to gather enough evidence, the sources said. However, the issue of missing coal block allocation files, which was raised by opposition parties in Parliament today, would be discussed at a separate meeting between CVC and CBI officials for court-monitored probes, the sources said, adding that the case was being heard in Supreme Court. CVC, which exercises superintendence over CBI to oversee probes into corruption cases, is understood to have asked the agency to speed up its pace of investigation, they said. CVC had in May last year asked the agency to look into the matter of coal block allocations to private companies between 2006 and 2009. CBI is looking at the allocation of coal mines post-1993 to ascertain any wrongdoing during the NDA regime. Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal had on August 17 said that some files related to coal block allocations were missing. Following Jaiswal`s remarks, BJP has targeted the government and paralysed Parliament over the issue, demanding a statement in the matter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "I would like to re-emphasise that government is making every effort to locate the files requisitioned by CBI. "At this stage, it would be premature to say that the files are missing. A vast majority of files have been handed over and that is the factual position. "However, disregarding this, some members have come to the conclusion that there was something fishy that the government was hiding. The government has nothing to hide. The fact that more than 1,50,000 pages have been handed over to CBI clearly shows that our intention is to facilitate the investigation," Singh today said in a statement made in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The Coal Ministry has also formed a committee to look into the matter of the missing files. CBI had on August 14 written to the Coal Ministry stating that 225 files and documents related to the coal block allocations were still to be handed over to it by the Coal Ministry. That included 167 files pertaining to the pre-2004 time, during which the BJP-led NDA had been in power. CBI has said these files and documents were necessary for concluding the probe against various firms booked by the agency for the alleged manipulation and concealing of facts. However, the Coal Ministry has requested CBI to scrutinise the files already seized by it saying that the missing documents could be attached to those. CBI has registered three preliminary inquiries and 13 FIRs so far in the case. PTI