CBI faces HC wrath over probe into Rs 30k-cr coal scam

The Delhi High Court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain why it closed the preliminary inquiry into the alleged Rs 30,000 crore coal import invoicing scam, even as the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) was still probing these cases.

The scandal involves top corporate houses like Adani group, Reliance Infrastructure and Essar Power.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled on May 1. The court has also asked the government to respond to its notice, according to a report by news portal The Wire.

On a petition filed separately by social activist Harsh Mander, the finance ministry has given an undertaking to the Delhi High Court in March that it will pursue all over-invoicing cases to their logical conclusion. The DRI has also filed a detailed affidavit in the court blaming PSU banks for not cooperating in the over-invoicing probe. CBI had closed its investigation into the scam.

The court’s order could put the CBI in a difficult situation. The CBI has only filed an FIR against NTPC in the coal import scam that happened during 2008-10 and avoided a probe against the firms involved in over-invoicing, petitioner Prashant Bhushan said. About 40 firms are under the DRI scanner for alleged over-invoicing of coal import scam during 2008-2010. In its initial probe, the DRI found that all firms adopted a common modus operandi for overvaluing price of imported coal.