VIJAY DEO JHA
Ranchi, Feb. 24: The Enforcement Directorate has lodged an FIR against five officials of the Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) and directors of a private company in a case related to alleged coal worth over Rs 83.63 crore from Amrapali Project under Magadh Amrapali Area in Chatra. But the amount under scam is estimated worth over Rs 100 Crore
The officials named by the ED in the coal scam are Dilip Kumar Sharma (Project Officer), Shambhu Kumar Jha (Manager), Umesh Kumar Singh (Senior Surveyor), Pankaj Kumar Jha (Senior Survey Officer), Nihar Ranjan Saw (Chief Manager Mining), Directors of M/S AMPL-MIPL-GCL (JV) and others.
They are alleged to have pilfered about 8,75,774.3159 (MT) of coal which was nearly half of the coal stock (48.54%) as far as the book balance is concerned. Sources said that the CBI had originally lodged an FIR after it conducted a raid on the basis of intelligence information.
The CBI had got information that there was a huge shortage of coal in the coal stock lying at the Amrapali Project under Magadh Amrapali Area of CCL in Chatra. A joint surprise check was conducted along with the Vigilance Department of CCL, Ranchi.
It was found that the opening book balance of the coal as of August 30, 2019, was reported as 18,04,004 (MT), and against this opening book balance of coal, computed measured vendible stock of coal during Joint Surprise Check was found to be 9,28,2297 MT only. Thus, the shortage of coal stock during the Joint Surprise Check was found to be 8,75,774 MT which was 48.54% less than the book balance. It caused a wrongful loss to CCL to the tune of around Rs. 83,63, 64,471. Under the rule, the permissible shortage in the coal stock is only +/- 5%.
The CBI accordingly lodged an FIR on August 17, 2021, against them under sections 120B, 420, 409, and 477 A of the IPC and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The investigation has revealed that these officials were involved in the coal pilferage for a long time and they manipulated measurement books.
According to clause 10 of Responsibility under New Code of Uniform System of Maintenance, Control and Verification of Coal Stock in all Mines of CIL’ rule these accused were responsible for maintenance of stock and are liable to be held responsible for all coal-stock shortage.
Investigation revealed that M/s AMPL-MIPL-GCL (JV), Kolkata was given the contract at Amrapali Project for executing the work of coal extraction, dumping of coal at designated coal dump in Amrapali. The said company and its directors also joined the accused persons in the coal scam.
