The Congress Rajya Sabha MP and the owner of the Lokmat group of publications Vijay Darda said on Wednesday that the JLD limited project was meant for the farmers in the suicide prone Vidarbha region.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had named Mr. Vijay Darda, his brother and Maharashtra Education Minister Rajendra Darda and Devendra Darda in the FIR filled on Tuesday in its investigation in the coal blocks allocation.
Mr. Vijay Darda issued a clarification today through Marathi daily Lokmat which is owned by him.
“In 2006, I decided to put up a 1215 megawatt plant near Wani. I wanted to provide cheap electricity to the poor farmers of Yavatmal district. The JLD limited had requested for a coal block within 60 km from the site of the project but we were given the coal block 600 km away. The project became financially unviable so I disassociated myself from the project in 2009” said Mr. Darda.
“As a Member of Parliament, I never misused my position to influence the coal block allocation. I refute all the allegations that are levelled against me. We are not involved in any wrongdoings and very soon the truth will come out in open. I will fully cooperate with the CBI in the investigations” he added.
The CBI had raided many places on Tuesday including Mr. Vijay Darda’s home in Nagpur. But CBI officials remained tight-lipped about the raids. “The team which carried out the raids, came from New Delhi and hardly anyone from Nagpur CBI office participated in the raids” Thomas John, a CBI officer in Nagpur told The Hindu . “Only one API from Nagpur went with the team to guide it. The team was headed by Officer Vivek Datta” he added.
