Coal Ministry knew of AMR Iron's coal interests: CBI

New Delhi: The Coal Ministry knew that AMR Iron and Steel Limited, accused by CBI in its FIR, was in possession of coal blocks when it applied for them in 2008, the probe agency has claimed.

CBI sources said they had found that the company representatives met the then Minister of State for Coal in his "chamber" on September 18, 2008 wherein they claimed that they were not part of the Jayaswal group, but the equity was held by Lokmat group, Abhijeet Infrastructure and IL and FS.

"The company also admitted that it was allocated five coal blocks earlier as on the date of application during the meeting dated September 18, 2008," the CBI FIR alleged.

CBI sources claimed that the company had allegedly misrepresented the earlier allocation of coal blocks to the group companies and the equity participation by ILFS and Lokmat group in its application form.

The agency alleged that the company in a letter dated September 22, 2008 to the then Minister of Coal claimed in writing that it was not part of Jayaswal group.

The CBI is now planning to quiz directors of AMR Iron and Steel in this connection, they sources said.

The agency has also found that Coal Ministry officials at that time allegedly in collusion with the representatives of the company "wilfully" did not take the enquiry against the company to its "logical conclusion" despite knowing that its group company had already got coal blocks.

The agency has accused son of Congress MP Vijay Darda, Devendra, Arvind Kumar Jayaswal, Manoj Jayaswal and Ramesh Jayaswal of entering into conspiracy to cheat and abuse of official position.

Darda has refuted all the allegations against him.

AMR Iron could not be reached for comments.

PTI