Coal scam: Jindal may be questioned this week

The Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to question Congress Member of Parliament Naveen Jindal this week in connection with its First Information Report against him and his company for alleged cheating while applying for coal block.

CBI sources said Jindal, who has been named as accused along with the former Minister for State for Coal Dasari Narayan Rao in its 13th FIR, would be questioned this week.

According to the FIR, Jindal Steel and Power Limited and Gagan Sponge Iron Ltd, also a firm belonging to Jindal, had bagged Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block in Jharkhand in 2008 by alleged misrepresentation of facts when Rao was the minister of state for coal.

Within a year, a block was allocated to JSPL in January 2008, CBI sources claimed, noting that shares of Rao's firm Saubhagya Media listed at Rs 28 that time were purchased by one of Jindal's firm -- New Delhi Exim Ltd -- at a whopping Rs 100 per share with total investment of nearly Rs 2.25 crore which is alleged to be illegal gratification.

After Jindal's return from abroad on June 20, the CBI completed its search operation as during the searches conducted on June 11, the agency could not open some of the cupboards and almirahs which were locked.

Head of External Affairs at JSPL, Manu Kapoor had earlier said, "JSPL, as a law abiding company, is governed by a strong ethical code of conduct. This is an ongoing CBI investigation into coal block allocation. At this stage of investigation, the JSPL is committed to fully cooperate with the CBI."

Besides Jindal and Rao, the CBI has also booked JSPL Gagan Sponge Iron Ltd, Jindal Realty and ND Exim and Rao's company Saubhagya Media.