Enforcement Directorate’s Coalgate probe hits ‘babu’ roadblock

New Delhi: Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the coal scam, have hit a roadblock following non-cooperation from the coal ministry.

Sources in the agency said the ministry’s officials have expressed their inability to provide certain crucial documents sought by the ED sleuths on the ground that “records are not available with them.”

The ED, which has so far registered 16 cases in the Colagate scam, recently sought certain documents from the coal ministry pertaining to the allocations of captive coal blocks from 2006 to 2009.

“The ministry officials expressed their inability to provide documents sought by the ED. The officials categorically said that the majority of records are available with the CBI, which is also probing the coalgate scam,” a source said.

The non-availability of the documents are hampering ED’s coal scam probe, they added.

The ED has now approached the CBI to take possession of the documents required by the former to complete its probe at the earliest.

The agency also preparing to seek clarifications from five former steel ministry officials in connection with allocations of certain captive coal blocks made in 2006.

“Role of at least five former officials of the Steel ministry is under the scanner of the agency in connection with the ED’s probe related to the allocation of captive coal blocks of Lohara (East) in Maharashtra and Moira Madhujore (North and South) in West Bengal,” sources said.

At least three companies, allocated captive coal blocks in 2006, may be booked by the agency, sources added. It is analysing documents submitted by these firms wile filing applications for the coal blocks.