This Article is From Sep 21, 2015

Hindalco to be Probed by CBI for 'Paying Cash for Clearances': Sources

Hindalco to be Probed by CBI for 'Paying Cash for Clearances': Sources
Hindalco owned by the Aditya Birla group is likely to face an investigation for allegedly paying money to secure environmental clearance.

Sources say the CBI has, in a report to the Supreme Court, recommended a preliminary inquiry against the company. The court had asked the investigating agency to look into entries in a diary seized from the Hindalco office.

The CBI is investigating alleged irregularities in the allotment of a coal field to Hindalco in 2005, when then prime minister Manmohan Singh was in charge of the coal ministry.  

Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of India's most respected entrepreneurs, is the chairman of the Aditya Birla group.

Accused of manipulating the government, Hindalco had said in a statement that it made its case during its bid to get access to the coal field "in a transparent and lawful manner".

The CBI today told the Supreme Court that in Dr Singh's case, there was no criminal intent in the allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco.

It was former Minister of State for Coal, Santosh Bagrodia, who acted with criminal intent in recommending coal blocks and his case could not be equated with that of Dr Singh, the CBI said.

Mr Bagrodia's lawyer had argued that he and the former PM should be treated equally in the case as all decisions were taken by both.

The Supreme Court had earlier put on hold the order of a Delhi court that the 82-year-old former PM should appear in connection with the coal scam.
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