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Inferior coal import scam: CBI registers two cases

CBI has registered two cases of cheating for alleged import and supply of low quality coal from Indonesia to National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and NTPC-SAIL Power Corporation Ltd (NSPCL) resulting in losses of Rs 116.07 crore.

 In the first case which resulted in loss of Rs 23.16 crore to NTPC, the agency has registered an FIR against A K Srivastava, Additional General Manager, Uma Shankar Verma, Deputy Manager, NTPC power plant Lab, Indore-based Bhatia International presently known as Asian Natural Resources Ltd.

The agency has also named international companies Singapore-based Bhatia International Pte Limited, Jakarta-based PT Mitra S K Analisa Testama, its Indian subsidiary S K Mitra Pvt Limited based in Kolkata and its chemist Chandra Prakash Yadav for alleged criminal conspiracy to cheat the PSU.

 "It is alleged that the accused persons during the period 2011-13 entered into criminal conspiracy with an intention to cheat NTPC. In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy, inferior quality non-cooking coal of Indonesian origin, shown to be of good quality on papers, was purchased from Indonesia by Singapore based company, overseas supplier and sister concern of Indore based group of companies," CBI spokesperson said here today.

The CBI has alleged that inferior quality coal was brought to India through sea-route through different bill of entries having gross calorific value which was far less than technical specifications of the agreement.

The coal which should have been rejected was supplied to NTPC power plant at Unchahar, which has resulted in a wrongful loss of Rs 23.16 crore.

 Emails seeking reactions from the named companies remained unanswered.

 The accused companies used a similar modus operandi with NSPCL power plant in Bhilai in alleged criminal conspiracy with its officials to cheat the public sector undertaking of Rs 92.91 crore.

Source: The Economic Times