Coal scam: CBI to start questioning this week

NEW DELHI: CBI is likely to start this week questioning the directors of companies accused by the agency in its five cases related to alleged irregularities in allocation of coal blocks.

The agency has scrutinised crucial documents and data recovered from hard disks of computers seized by it during the searches last week and finalised people who could be called for questioning, sources said.

In the first batch, the agency is likely to call the accused persons named in its FIR against JLD Yavatmal Energy Limited, JAS Infrastructure and AMR Iron and Steel, they said.

CBI has named Congress MP Vijay Darda along with his son Devendra and other former and present directors, including brother Rajendra Darda, Manoj Jayaswal, Anand Jayaswal and Abhishek Jayaswal in the FIRs against the three companies.

However, sources said, Darda maybe questioned later. The allegations of any wrong-doing in getting coal blocks have been refuted by Dardas and Jayaswals.

"I am shocked to hear about the development," Darda had said after FIRs were filed.

The sources said the questioning might involve seeking information about the alleged role Dardas played in getting the coal block for JLD Yavatamal.

The agency would question Manoj Jayaswal, who is also one of the main accused who appeared in three of the five FIRs filed by it.

The agency would also question those named in FIRs against Nav Bharat Power Private Limited and Vini Iron and Steel Limited, the sources said.

CBI sources said the officials of screening committee in which the coal blocks were cleared and officials who screened the applications would also be asked to record their statements in connection with the probe.