PC Parakh questioned on allocation of Mahan coal block

NEW DELHI: For the second consecutive day, former Coal Secretary PC Parakh was questioned for over 10 hours on alleged irregularities in allocation of Talabira coal block to Hindalco in 2005 and also of Mahan coal block to the company in which there is no FIR so far.

Parakh, who arrived at the agency headquarters at 10.30 AM, was quizzed till nine in the night by a team of CBI officers who were monitored by a Joint Director-level officer.

After coming out, Parakh told reporters that although the case under probe is allocation of Talabira coal block to Hindalco, he was also asked to explain the Mahan coal block in Madhya Pradesh to the company.

The allocation of Mahan coal block is under scrutiny of the agency but no FIR has been registered yet.

Yesterday after examination, when he was asked whether he was satisfied with the questioning process, as he had alleged in his book that on previous instances inspector-level officers with no experience of policy formulations were involved in his examination, Parakh had said he was satisfied.

"The whole idea of the questioning is to understand. I am in the process of making them understand. They have a point of view. I am trying to put my point of view," he had said.

69-year-old Parakh, who retired as Coal Secretary in December 2005, has been accused in a CBI FIR of abusing his official position to grant a coal block to Hindalco, an Aditya Birla Group company.

CBI had last year registered a case against Parakh, Birla and unnamed officials of Hindalco and the Coal Ministry.

The agency has alleged that during 2005, these persons had entered into a criminal conspiracy and the then public servant (Parakh) abused his position and showed undue favour to the Odisha-based industry in allocation of Talabira II and Talabira III coal blocks.

CBI has also quizzed former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao and the Prime Minister's Advisor TKA Nair in the case.