Missing files: CBI to start preliminary enquiry

The decision has been taken on Thursday after a crucial meeting of investigators with the coal ministry officials

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will register a preliminary enquiry within two days in connection with the missing files related to coal block allocations. The decision was taken on Thursday after a crucial meeting of investigators with the coal ministry officials.

Sources said the ministry had sent a fresh letter on Wednesday giving details of the files available with it and urged the CBI to consider it as a complaint on the basis of which a probe can be initiated.

They said the agency team met the coal ministry officials on Thursday, where both sides reconciled that 15-18 files related to coal block allocation, which included minutes of screening committee, remained untraceable.

Sources said the agency preferred to start a preliminary enquiry which could be converted into a regular case if some evidence of malafide is found.

During the analysis of documents and interactions with the coal ministry officials, CBI has found that some of the crucial files are not in existence. The sources said one such case is of files related to minutes of the 26th screening committee, which are not available in the ministry, and despite best efforts only the draft minutes could be traced in the ministry.

They said the agency would look into the issue of such missing files as decisions have been taken referring to the minutes of the screening committee, which are said to be not in existence.

On Monday, the coal ministry had sent a tranche of documents along with the list of files and records. The preliminary analysis had shown not all files sought by the agency were provided by the ministry.