Coal block allocation scam: CBI should be allowed to do its job, says Kumar Mangalam Birla

NEW DELHI: Aditya Birla Group head Kumar Mangalam Birla, who is named in the FIR in the alleged coal block allocation scam, said the CBI should be allowed to do its job.

"Let CBI do its work. It is not fair for me to comment on that," Birla said after meeting Finance Minister P Chidambaram here.

The industrialist had met Chidambaram earlier on October 18 and November 5 and Law Minister Kapil Sibal last week.

The CBI had named Birla and former Coal Secretary P C Parakh in its FIR charging them with criminal conspiracy and corruption in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks eight years ago.

The investigating agency alleged in its FIR that after rejection of Birla group firm Hindalco's plea in 2005, Birla wrote two letters and held a "personal meeting" with then Coal Secretary Parakh, after which a decision was reversed and Hindalco was given a coal block that was meant for two public sector undertakings -- Mahanadi Coal Fields and Neyveli Lignite.