National
CBI files case in Rs 487 cr coal import scam (Lead)
New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) The CBI has registered a case against certain officials of NTPC, MMTC, APCPL and a private energy firm on charges of cheating the exchequer of Rs 487 crore by importing inferior quality coal from 2011-12 to 2014-15, an official said on Tuesday.
The central agency registered the FIR on Monday after taking cognisance of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s investigation into the import of inferior coal of Indonesian origin while showing it as of superior quality.
In the FIR, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named Ahmed A.R. Buhari, promoter of Chennai-based Coastal Energy Pvt Ltd, and unidentified officials of National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) and Aravali Power Company Pvt Ltd (APCPL).
The NTPC and MMTC are central government undertakings while the APCPL is a joint venture company wherein the NTPC owns 50 per cent stake and 25 per cent stake each is owned by the Haryana and Delhi governments.
The accused have been booked for criminal conspiracy, criminal misconduct by public servants, and cheating, under the Indian Penal Code.
“The unidentified officials of NTPC, APCPL and MMTC entered into a criminal conspiracy with officials of Coastal Energy Pvt Ltd and others to cheat the Indian government in the import of coal of Indonesian origin by fraudulently showing inferior quality as superior,” the CBI FIR said.
According to the CBI FIR, the NTPC and APCPL are engaged in operation of coal-based thermal power stations and to meet their requirements they import coal by floating global tenders.
It said that Coastal Energy Pvt Ltd (CEPL) and MMTC were successful in getting contracts for the supply of coal to the NTPC and the APCPL.
The FIR said that the CEPL was sourcing coal with lower Gross Calorific Value through its intermediary firms based in Dubai while the MMTC entered into a tripartite agreement with CEPL, CNO LL and CNO DM firms for coal import.
“The CNO LL and CNO DM entered into further separate agreements with coal exporters in Indonesia for the import of inferior coal with lesser value.”
“On the basis of artificially inflated invoices and manipulated test report, 147 consignments of coal were sold to the MMTC through the CEPL as coal of higher grade for further supply to the NTPC and the APCPL at higher prices. The MMTC and CEPL have declared inflated values of the consignments of coal at the time of import, and on this value, the NTPC and the APCPL made payments to these entities.”
The FIR said the importers — CEPL and MMTC– in order to avoid submission of factual documents, had also refrained from availing the customs duty exemption available for coal of Indonesian origin while importing consignments of coal.
Citing the investigation done earlier by the Mumbai branch of the DRI, the CBI FIR said “over invoicing of more than Rs 363 crore was done on the coal imported by MMTC and Rs 124 crore by CEPL”.
–IANS
rak/tsb/bg
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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