Coal scam: Delhi court raps CBI

New Delhi [India], Mar. 17 (ANI): A Delhi Court on Friday rapped the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over non-submission of final report in connection with the coal scam case. The court directed the CBI to submit the report by March 24. Earlier on March 6, the special court directed the CBI to expeditiously file its further probe report in a coal block allocation scam case against Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal besides others. After CBI's submission that the final report is pending with the competent authority for approval, Special Judge Bharat Parashar observed the "matter is getting unnecessary delayed" and said "sufficient time has already been granted for filing report of further investigation." In the previous hearing, the court had granted two weeks' time to the CBI to file the final report in a proper format in the cases against Jindal, ex-Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao and others. The court had earlier too granted time to the CBI to file the report in a proper format. The court, which rapped the CBI for not filing the final report in a proper format, later accepted the further probe report noting that sufficient time has already lapsed in the matter and asked the agency to file the documents in a "proper format". The CBI has alleged Koda had favoured Jindal group firms -- Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) and Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL) -- in allocation of Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand. Opposing the CBI's contention, all accused had said there was no evidence to show that there was any conspiracy during the coal blocks allocation process. They had also denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI in its chargesheet. The Special Court had on February 20 adjourned the hearing in the case for March 6, as the CBI sought more time to examine documents pertaining to the matter. The court allowed the investigating officer's plea seeking time on the ground that he had finalised the report, forwarded it to senior authorities and was awaiting approval. On January 13, the CBI filed the final report against Jindal, Rao and others in connection with the case. The court had earlier pulled up the CBI for the delay in filing the report, saying it was affecting the progress of the trial. Opposing the CBI's contention, all accused said that there was no evidence to show that there was any conspiracy during the coal blocks allocation process. (ANI)