Former coal secretary P.C. Parakh, who was summoned earlier this week by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with alleged irregularities in the allocation of Talabira-II coal block in Odisha to Hindalco, has sought postponement of his examination.
The agency had asked Mr. Parakh to appear before it on April 25. However, he expressed his inability requesting that the date of his appearance be advanced.
“We received Mr. Parakh’s reply on Thursday. It is being examined legally to arrive at a decision,” said a CBI official.
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The CBI has already questioned senior Hindalco executives and former coal minister Dasari Narayana Rao in the case registered last year, after a preliminary enquiry purportedly revealed the Talabira-II coal block was allocated to Hindalco by overturning the 25th Screening Committee recommendation that it should be given away to public sector unit Neyveli Lignite Corporation.
While the agency alleged that Mr. Parakh abused his official position to favour Hindalco, the former coal secretary questioned its decision to name him as an accused, stating that the final decision in the matter was taken by the Prime Minister himself. The Prime Minister Office had also defended the allocation, after the CBI registered the case.