Jindal Steel denies CBI charges, says allocation made on merit

NEW DELHI: Jindal Steel today refuted allegations made by CBI in its charge sheet about allocation of a coal block and said the company will be availing appropriate remedy in accordance with the law.

In a statement issued after the CBI filed the charge sheet against the company, spokesperson for Jindal Steel and Power Limited said, "We are shocked to know from the media about filing of a charge sheet by CBI with respect to allocation of a coal block."

The company claimed that the allocation was made to it on merit. "During the course of the investigation the company and its officials fully co-operated with the authorities, and whenever asked, explained and provided all the supporting documents," it said.

Refuting all the allegations made against the company, the spokesperson said, "We will be availing appropriate remedy in accordance with law. We have full faith in our judiciary and are confident to come out clean during the process."

It said that the JSPL has created a world class steel manufacturing and power generation infrastructure in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The company has created over 20,000 jobs and anchors an employment eco-system for 50,000 families, the spokesperson claimed in the statement.

The CBI filed the charge sheet against the company's owner and Congress leader Naveen Jindal, ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and 12 others in connection with the Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block allocation scam case.

The case pertains to alleged irregularities in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand's Birbhum district in 2008 to Jindal Group firms-- JSPL and Gagan Sponge Iron Pvt Ltd (GSIPL).