Even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated many probes into alleged corruption in the city-based Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), the agency is still awaiting the go ahead from CIL to start prosecuting corrupt employees. Sleuths feel the delay is only a stalling tactic by this public sector mining company to shield its employees embroiled in the cases.
In cases booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, approval of the relevant government organisation has to be taken before proceeding with prosecution. Even as guidelines by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) stipulate that the response should come within three weeks, CIL has not sent replies in many cases for months, said a source in CBI.
A total of 20 persons have been accused in various cases, including stock embezzlement, which leads to pilfering of coal to be sold in the open market. There are three cases of stock misappropriation, papers related to which have been submitted to CIL between August and September 2010. Of these, one or two have been forwarded to WCL from where a reply is awaited, said a source.
Similarly, there is a case of alleged wrongful deployment of private vehicles involving an amount of Rs 1.75 crore, in which nine persons have been accused. There is also a trap case, which can be disposed off within a week, but it has been nearly two months and there has been no reply from CIL.
Some CBI officers also believe that cases are being referred from CIL headquarters to WCL for no reason. They said the CIL chairman is the relevant authority and can take a decision on his own.
As per the procedure, in case there is a difference between the CBI and a government organisation over prosecution, the case is referred to the CVC. which has the final word. However, it would be only possible if CIL submits a reply and its silence appears to be a move to shield the accused, said an official.
WCL chairman-cum-managing director DC Garg though said that he was going through the papers and it may take time as the documents are too lengthy. "After all, it is the question of an employees' job, so enough care has to be taken," said Garg.
In cases booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, approval of the relevant government organisation has to be taken before proceeding with prosecution. Even as guidelines by Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) stipulate that the response should come within three weeks, CIL has not sent replies in many cases for months, said a source in CBI.
A total of 20 persons have been accused in various cases, including stock embezzlement, which leads to pilfering of coal to be sold in the open market. There are three cases of stock misappropriation, papers related to which have been submitted to CIL between August and September 2010. Of these, one or two have been forwarded to WCL from where a reply is awaited, said a source.
Similarly, there is a case of alleged wrongful deployment of private vehicles involving an amount of Rs 1.75 crore, in which nine persons have been accused. There is also a trap case, which can be disposed off within a week, but it has been nearly two months and there has been no reply from CIL.
Some CBI officers also believe that cases are being referred from CIL headquarters to WCL for no reason. They said the CIL chairman is the relevant authority and can take a decision on his own.
As per the procedure, in case there is a difference between the CBI and a government organisation over prosecution, the case is referred to the CVC. which has the final word. However, it would be only possible if CIL submits a reply and its silence appears to be a move to shield the accused, said an official.
WCL chairman-cum-managing director DC Garg though said that he was going through the papers and it may take time as the documents are too lengthy. "After all, it is the question of an employees' job, so enough care has to be taken," said Garg.
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