Coal scam: CBI questions Arvind Jayaswal

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday questioned Arvind Jayaswal, director AMR Iron and Steel Private Limited, in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of Bander coal block in Maharashtra to the company.

Jayaswal has been named by the agency in its first information report in which it alleged that the company concealed and misrepresented facts that its group firms were already been 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, CBI sources said.

They said Jayaswal has been 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 net worth 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 has 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.

CBI alleged that during the meeting with the then minister of state for coa l--Santosh Bagrodia -- the company claimed that it was not a part of the Jayaswal group but the equity was held by Lokmat Group, Abhijeet Infrastructure and IL and FS.

It is alleged that a letter was also sent to the minister of coal on September 22, 2008 where it allegedly misrepresented facts that it was not part of Jayaswal group.

Despite taking note of previous allocation of group companies of AMR Iron and Steel, officials in the coal ministry "wilfully" did not complete the enquiry against the company, the CBI sources alleged.

They said the agency would soon call public servants, who had examined the application and other documents related to the company, for questioning.