PMO rejects irregularities in Coal block allocation

New Delhi: The Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday rejected any irregularity in the controversial allocation of coal blocks to Hindalco, saying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had approved it on the basis of “merits” of the case placed before him.

While defending the decision, the PMO referred to Singh’s statements earlier that the government has nothing to hide and it will fully cooperate with CBI which is probing the case.

The allocation of Talabira coal block in Odisha is in the eye of a storm with CBI booking Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla and former coal secretary PC Parakh. The former coal secretary has said if he was accused of conspiracy, then the Prime Minister also should be made an accused as he had approved the revised decision.

The PMO acknowledged that the final decision on the allocation “differed” from the earlier recommendation of the Screening Committee. “This was done following a representation received in the Prime Minister’s Office from one of the parties, which was referred to the Ministry of Coal,” the PMO said in a statement.

The PMO said CBI is free to investigate the case as it may have got hold of some documents post-allocation.