Former Coal Secretary P.C. Parakh was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation for the second day on Friday in connection with the allocation of Talabira coal blocks in Odisha to Hindalco.
During the examination, Mr. Parakh was asked about the procedure followed during his tenure in the allocation of coal blocks. The CBI team headed by a Superintendent of Police also questioned him regarding reversal of the 25th screening committee’s recommendation to grant the Odisha coal block to public sector unit Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited.
The agency had last year registered the case against Mr. Parakh, Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, alleging that in 2005 the former Coal Secretary had abused his official position to overturn the screening committee’s recommendation, in favour of Hindalco. Mr. Parakh was questioned for about eight hours on Thursday.
