Birla meets PC, Parakh says will explain decision
19 Oct 2013 1:08 AM GMT
Birla, after meeting Chidambaram at North Block office, told reporters: ‘I am not worried about the development as I have done nothing wrong. I met the FM and discussed various issues. I won’t like to comment.’
The CBI, on the other hand, said they are likely to register more FIRs. The agency, earlier this week, booked Birla and former coal secretary PC Parakh for corruption and criminal conspiracy alleging that Birla’s group firm Hindalco was shown undue favour in allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks. Parakh has been vocal about including prime minister Manmohan Singh in the FIR as he was the one who had taken the final decision. Reiterating their stand against Parakh, the CBI on Friday said that the former coal secretary has failed to explain the reasons for allotting coal block to Hindalco after rejecting it earlier. CBI officials added Parakh was examined before registering a case against Hindalco during which he was asked about the reasons for reversing the decision to reject the company’s application.
The sources claimed Parakh couldn’t explain under what circumstances he changed his own ‘considered’ view and allowed Hindalco to get a pie in Talabira II and III coal blocks in Odisha which were allocated to PSUs – Mahanadi Coalfields and Neyveli Lignite. The CBI has said in its FIR that after rejection of Hindalco’s plea in 2005, Birla wrote two letters and held a personal meeting with Parakh, after which the decision was reversed.
On his part, Parakh said he will explain why the stand was changed and block allocated to Hindalco if he is asked to explain. He added if four people are involved in a decision all should be held accountable and not just two.
The CBI, on the other hand, said they are likely to register more FIRs. The agency, earlier this week, booked Birla and former coal secretary PC Parakh for corruption and criminal conspiracy alleging that Birla’s group firm Hindalco was shown undue favour in allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks. Parakh has been vocal about including prime minister Manmohan Singh in the FIR as he was the one who had taken the final decision. Reiterating their stand against Parakh, the CBI on Friday said that the former coal secretary has failed to explain the reasons for allotting coal block to Hindalco after rejecting it earlier. CBI officials added Parakh was examined before registering a case against Hindalco during which he was asked about the reasons for reversing the decision to reject the company’s application.
The sources claimed Parakh couldn’t explain under what circumstances he changed his own ‘considered’ view and allowed Hindalco to get a pie in Talabira II and III coal blocks in Odisha which were allocated to PSUs – Mahanadi Coalfields and Neyveli Lignite. The CBI has said in its FIR that after rejection of Hindalco’s plea in 2005, Birla wrote two letters and held a personal meeting with Parakh, after which the decision was reversed.
On his part, Parakh said he will explain why the stand was changed and block allocated to Hindalco if he is asked to explain. He added if four people are involved in a decision all should be held accountable and not just two.
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