New Delhi: A Delhi special court has summoned industrialist and Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal, former Coal Secretary P.C. Parekh and several others after taking cognisance of a CBI chargesheet alleging irregularities in the allocation and operation of the Gare Palma IV/1 coal block in Chhattisgarh. The accused have been directed to appear before the court on July 17.
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Special Judge Sunena Sharma issued summons after observing that sufficient material was available on record to proceed with the matter. The court examined the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation following a probe that has continued for more than a decade.
Those summoned include Naveen Jindal, former Coal Secretary P.C. Parekh, Rakesh Kumar Jindal, Ram Kishore, S.K. Agarwal, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, and Jindal Strips Limited, now known as Nalwa Sons Investments Limited.
The case originated from a preliminary inquiry initiated in 2012 on the directions of the Central Vigilance Commission. The inquiry was linked to complaints alleging irregularities in the allocation of several coal blocks between 1993 and 2005. After examining allegations related to the Gare Palma IV/1 block, the CBI registered an FIR in 2014.
Alleged Irregularities in Mining Operations
According to the chargesheet, the investigation found alleged irregularities in the operation of the coal block. These included mining outside coordinates approved by the screening committee, extraction beyond sanctioned limits, sale of coal fines and washery rejects without required approvals, and alleged falsification of official records.
The court noted that the chargesheet is among the most voluminous filed in coal block allocation cases. The CBI submitted 778 documents running into more than one lakh pages and listed 234 witnesses as part of the prosecution material.
Judge Sharma observed that the delay in filing the chargesheet was linked to the complexity of the investigation. The probe involved scrutiny of extensive records, examination of numerous witnesses and obtaining prosecution sanctions against public servants.
Court Says Allegations to Be Tested at Trial
After reviewing the material, the court took cognisance of alleged offences under Sections 120B, 409 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The court clarified that the order does not determine guilt or innocence. It said the allegations will be tested during trial, but held that the evidence collected during the investigation was sufficient at this stage to justify further judicial proceedings.
The coal block allocation controversy has led to several investigations and prosecutions over the past decade. With the accused directed to appear on July 17, the case will now move to the next stage of proceedings, where evidence, arguments and witness testimony are expected to shape the course of the trial.
