The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has raised several queries on the coal block allocation done by the Coal Ministry till 2009.
“CBI officials met the Coal Secretary, Mr S.K. Srivastava, on Friday to seek clarifications on allocation of coal blocks. The investigative agency has also raised several queries that the Ministry is expected to reply in a week's time,” a source said.
CBI's inquiry into coal allocations started after Opposition parties as well as others put pressure for a probe related to discrepancies in allotment of blocks, that allegedly caused huge loss to the exchequer.
Former Coal Secretary Mr Alok Perti, who has been appointed as advisor to the Ministry, is also assisting the Ministry in replying the CBI queries, the source added. Mr Petri retired from the post of Coal Secretary on May 31.
The Coal Minister, Mr Sriprakash Jaiswal, has been maintaining that allocation of coal blocks was never considered as a potential source for generating revenue for the Central Government. Blocks were allocated to promote development of infrastructure.