Coal block allocation: Probe sought over Patnaik's role

Posted on 12th Mar 2015 11:27 am by mohit kumar

Bhubaneswar, March 11 (IANS) After a special court summoned former prime minister Manmohan Singh in a coal block allocation case, the Congress and BJP on Wednesday expected that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's role would also be probed.

Patnaik had recommended to the central government allocation of Talabira-II coal block to Hindalco in 2005.

"The CBI has the right to summon or question anybody if there is prima facie evidence in a case of corruption. But what I am surprised about is how the CBI forgot the role of Odisha chief minister in the whole affair," said senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra.

He said Manmohan Singh has already clarified that the coal block was allocated to Hindalco on the basis of Odisha chief minister's recommendation.

Odisha BJP president K.V. Singhdeo hoped that Patnaik could still be summoned in the case.

"No one can escape from the probe... be it the former prime minister or the chief minister. I am hopeful that the chief minister would be summoned by the court in due course for recommending the coal block in favour of Hindalco. Just wait," Singhdeo told media persons.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), however, was in a defensive mode and tried to shift the blame on the central government, stating that it has the final authority to decide on the matter.

"The chief minister had only recommended the case and it was the Centre which had the final say. We must understand the difference between a recommending authority and those responsible for the final decision," said BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy.

Other news

PM Modi: PM Modi will visit four states in two days, will inaugurate development projects here today; public meetings and road shows

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit (29 and 30 May) to Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar,

Kanwar Yatra: The news of the bomb in Kanwar special train stirred up, police caught a kanwariya, then the truth came out

The police, GRP, and security agencies were stirred by the information about the bomb in the Kanw

Bids opened for captive port in Udangudi power project

Chennai, March 20 (IANS) The bids for a captive port for handling coal for the proposed Udangud

Indian Air Force gets two Mirage 2000 fighter jets from France, the defense will be strengthened amidst tense times

Amid tensions along the border, the Indian Air Force has got a boost in its fighter jet fleet. Th

Ponniyin Selvan 2 Trailer: PS 2 trailer launch in presence of Aishwarya Rai and Mani Ratnam

Ponniyin Selvan 2 Trailer: The trailer of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's much-awaited film PS2 has been

Kejriwal salutes Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid homage to freedo

Emergency like situation in Delhi: AQI still at 500 today, schools closed... many flights and trains delayed; visibility affected

Air pollution in the country's capital Delhi has reached dangerous levels. The fog along with pol

Bangladesh: The central government expressed concern over targeting Hindus in Bangladesh, and said- the situation is being closely monitored

The central government has expressed deep concern over the targeting of minority Hindus, temples,

New Guideline: 'Tobacco consumption means premature death' will now be written on the packet of cigarettes, the government has issued a new guideline

The Central Government has issued new instructions for the packaging of cigarettes and other toba

Punjab-Haryana High Court's comment: Do not force freedom fighters to come to court with begging bowls for pension

The Punjab-Haryana High Court has reprimanded the Central Government for making the freedom fight