CBI seeks time to clarify closure report against Birla

New Delhi, Sep 22:

The CBI Monday sought more time to clarify on the closure report filed against industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla and others in a case related to allocation of coal blocks.

Special Judge Bharat Parashar granted more time to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and posted the matter for further hearing Oct 13.

On Sep 12, the court pulled up the CBI over the missing file with original minutes of the screening committee meetings dealing with Hindalco’s application for allocation of coal blocks in Odisha, which was promoted by Kumar Mangalam Birla.

The Talabira II coal block in Sundargarh district, originally allocated to central PSU Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), was later allocated to Hindalco following Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s recommendation.

The court also asked the CBI about the hurry in filing the closure report over the matter.

Earlier, the court asked the CBI to clarify whether an element of criminality was involved while allocating the coal blocks to Hindalco.

The CBI booked Birla, former coal secretary P.C. Parakh and others on charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption in the allocation of coal blocks in October 2013.

It filed a closure report in the case Aug 28, saying “the evidence collected during the investigation did not substantiate the allegations levelled against the people named in the FIR (First Information Report)”.

(IANS)