Business Standard

Coal scam: CBI quizzes Arvind Jayaswal

Image

Press Trust of India New Delhi

Jayaswal, who arrived at the agency's headquarters here around 11 am, was grilled by sleuths till around seven in the evening, CBI sources said.

They said he was confronted with various documents related to allocation. He was also asked about the alleged meetings with the then minister of state for coal with regard to coal block allocation, they said.

Attempts to contact the company did not materialise.

Jayaswal has been named by the agency in its FIR in which it alleged that the company concealed and misrepresented facts that its group firms were already allocated coal blocks and that it was financially eligible to get the block.

 

The agency is likely to call for questioning other directors of the company including his brother Manoj and son of Congress MP Vijay Darda, Devendra who are also accused in the case against the company, the CBI sources said.

They said Jayaswal was questioned in connection with allegations that the company in order to prove financial eligibility to acquire the block fraudulently claimed that it was a proposed special purpose vehicle of Lokmat Group and ILFS.

It also claimed the combined networth of "proposed" vehicle as that of the company's, they said.

Vijay Darda has refuted all the allegations against him.

The CBI has alleged that the company "fraudulently and wilfully" concealed the fact that its group companies have already been allocated five coal blocks with an "object to avoid scrutiny on this count which would have weakened its claim", they said.

The agency also alleged that the company representatives had met the then Minister of state for Coal in his "chamber" and admitted that it was allocated five coal blocks earlier.

  

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Sep 17 2012 | 7:05 PM IST

Explore News