Rourkela: CBI officers on Friday conducted simultaneous searches at several locations, including mines of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) in Sundargarh district, in connection with alleged large-scale coal diversion.Sources said the agency is probing suspected illegal transportation of thousands of tonnes of coal from mines to railway sidings. Investigators are examining the alleged diversion of around 75,000 tonnes of coal that reportedly was unaccounted for during despatch from the mine to the siding. Following the detection of alleged irregularities, three CBI teams from Delhi carried out coordinated searches at Garjanbahal and Kulda coal mines under MCL, as well as at the Kanika railway siding in Hemgir block of Sundargarh district. Sources said C P Sethi, currently in-charge of the Kanika siding, was reportedly brought from his residence to the siding and questioned by the CBI team. Some employees of the Garjanbahal mine were also questioned during the operation. The investigators are trying to ascertain how the coal was transported through the railway siding and identify the entities or individuals who received the consignment. Sources further said that Sethi had earlier served as project in-charge of the Garjanbahal mine, and it is suspected that the alleged diversion took place during his previous tenure. CBI officers examined documents and records related to coal despatch and transportation. The raids were continuing at the time of filing this report.
