<div>The Central Vigilence Commission on 24 September asked the CBI to probe all coal block allocations since 1993, PTI reported. This means coal block allocations during UPA's first tenure besides that during NDA rule will come under investigation.<br /><br />The CVC has also forwarded a letter by coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal that coal block allocations since 1993 be probed.<br /><br />Jaiswal had earlier forwarded a letter by some MPs seeking a probe. <br /><br />CBI is already investigation into allotment of 67 coal blocks that were referred by CVC earlier. Based on these investigations, CBI has registered seven cases. With more coal blocks coming under scanner, state government entities are also expected to face a probe.<br /><br />The CBI on 22 September registered two new cases against two private companies, their directors and other public servants in the coal block allocation case and conducted raids in seven cities across the country.<br /><br />The agency, which has been already probing the case, has charged Vikash Metals and Powers Limited and Grace Industries with alleged misrepresentation of their net worth and joint ventures to illegally get coal blocks, CBI sources said.<br /><br />The agency also conducted raids at the offices and residence of the accused persons in seven cities - Nagpur, Chanderpur (Maharashtra), Kolkata, Asansole, Purulia (West Bengal) and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh).<br /><br />The managing directors of these companies and some unknown government officials have been charged with cheating, and criminal conspiracy as well under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the sources added.<br /><br />One of the cases was against the Kolkata-based Vikash Metal & Power Ltd, and its directors Vimal Patni, Vikash Patni, Anand Patni, Virender Kumar Jain, Kailash Chander Jain, Vijay Kumar Jain and Anand Malick, who is authorized signatory for the company along with others.<br /><br />Nagpur-based Grace Industries Ltd and its directors Mukesh Gupta and Seema Gupta along with unknown public servants and other unknown persons were booked in second case.<br /><br />The alleged irregularities in the coal block allocations came under judicial scrutiny on 14 September with the Supreme Court directing the Centre to explain if the guidelines were strictly followed in allotting the natural resource to private companies.<br /><br />Turning down the Centre's plea that the court should not go into the issue as it is being looked into by a Parliamentary committee, the apex court said "these are different exercises."<br /><br />A bench of justices R M Lodha and A R Dave said the petition raised serious questions and "it requires explanation from the Government".<br /><br />"There is difference in exercise done by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Parliament and PAC can proceed with the issue on the basis of the CAG report. We don't want to encroach upon their exercise but the petition raises different things altogether. There are sufficient averments which require explanation from you," the court said.<br /><br />CBI had earlier registered five cases and conducted searches at 30 locations on Sep 4.<br /><br />A preliminary enquiry to examine the irregularities, if any, in the allocation of coal blocks by ministry of coal during the period 2006-2009 was registered on a reference from Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), in June this year.<br /><br />(BW Online Bureau & PTI)<br /><br /><br /> </div>
