Anti-corruption watch-dog Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) will take cognizance of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged coal scam allocation, said latest reports.
The CBI probe into the alleged lapses in coal allocation by the government between 2004 and 2009 was initiated following a complaint by BJP leaders Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Ahir. The Opposition leaders accused that the government resorted to arbitrary allocation in a bid to grant undue benefits for some private mining firms.
Reports suggested that Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar will take details of the investigation carried by the top investigating agency at a meeting with CBI Director A P Singh. A date for the meeting is yet to be decided.
"The meeting is routine where CBI will give status of all major cases being probed by it including the alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks," a CVC official told Indian express.
The scam-hit UPA government is being pulled up by the Opposition parties following the CAG audit report on the process of allocation of coal blocks, which indicted a possible scam in allocation of licenses to about 142 companies.
According to the government auditor, the exchequer has incurred a whopping loss of ₹1860 billion owing to the irregularities in granting about 142 licenses. The CAG suggested that the loss could have been avoided, if the government had adhered to competitive bidding instead of allocating the licenses.
Following the revelation of the coal irregularities, the main opposition BJP has been demanding the removal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from office on moral grounds. It has also sought for an independent judiciary probe and cancellation of licenses allotted to companies, which were named in the CAG report.
