New Delhi: Details of the 14th FIR in the coal blocks allocation scam which names former coal secretary PC Parakh and Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla reveals that the former changed the decision of the screening panel committee that was held in 2005 after a personal meeting with the industrialist.
A copy of the FIR accessed by CNN-IBN says that Parakh allegedly abused his position to show undue favours to the Birla-owned Hindalco. The FIR states that Hindalco got a better deal at the cost of PSU Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
The CBI FIR also says a screening committee in 2005, chaired by Parakh, had earlier rejected Hindalco's bid and allocated the coal block to Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
Without mentioning any names, the FIR says that the changes were approved by the "competent authority". Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the coal minister at the time.
The FIR goes on to allege there was a criminal conspiracy between Parakh, Birla and others to show undue favour to Hindalco
Meanwhile, despite concerns raised by some UPA ministers, India Incorporate and bureaucrats over the FIRs in the coal scam, Central Bureau of Investigation Director Ranjit Sinha has maintained that the agency is only following the Supreme Court's guidelines.
"It's not our concern what other agencies said about the former Coal Secretary. We have evidence on record that it was Parakh who overturned the screening committee decision and coal block was allotted to the Birlas," Sinha said
He also added that the investigation is into its initial stages and a chance will be given to all accused to defend themselves. "This is a Supreme Court monitored investigation and we are going by the rule book," he said.
However the Aditya Birla Group has defended the Group Chairman saying that due process has been followed. "Application for Talabira II was made in 1996 by Indal, the Indian subsidiary of Alcan, the Canadian aluminium major. Indal was acquired by Hindalco in 2000 after which Hindalco pursued the matter. The actual allocation of the mine was done in November 2005, 9 years after the first application was made," a statement by the group said.
Several of the country's top businessmen have also put forth their displeasure regarding the naming of Birla, Hindalco and Nalco by the CBI in the coal scam FIR.
"Hindalco owns only 15 per cent of that company. It doesn't control that company and just because some coal block reserved for public sector is partially allocated to private sector, there's nothing wrong with that. It was done by the government. So I think it's a bit ridiculous. It spoils sentiment, it spoils perception," said Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej adding that it was getting difficult to do business in India.
"I think the government must file a chargesheet and demonstrate the strong evidence they have as to why they are involving Mr Birla. If there is strong evidence against the individual of wrongdoing and there is evidence, then they are right because rule of law must prevail in this country. But if the evidence is just a meeting and a conspiracy is attached to that then I think it raises doubts," said CII chief Mohandas Pai.
Comments
0 comment