-The Times of India The Central Bureau of Investigation will soon write to coal producing state governments seeking to know the basis of their recommendations given to private companies who were allocated coal blocks between 2006 and 2009. The agency in its prima facie investigation has found some material which shows that several ineligible companies had allegedly got the coal blocks during the period, CBI sources said.  The CBI is now trying...

-CNN-IBN In a major embarrassment for the Congress, ally Trinamool Congress on Tuesday seemed to indirectly question Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's alleged role in the Coal Block Allocation case. Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee, who heads the parliamentary committee on Coal and Steel, indirectly questioned the PM's decision on Coal Block Allocation, saying the allocations should have been made through Coal India and state owned companies. In his report, the leader said the...

-The Pioneer In what could puncture the Government’s defence that there were no irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks when the Coal Ministry was under the charge of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has specifically asked the CBI to look into the role of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Screening Committee of the Coal Ministry. The CVC has also asked the agency to probe why auction...

-The Times of India The Central Vigilance Commission has asked the CBI to examine a complaint about alleged losses suffered by the public exchequer in the allocation of coal blocks between 2006 and 2009, in what can potentially be fodder for civil society as well as the opposition seeking to attack the government over Coalgate. Although the complaint of BJP MPs Prakash Javadekar and Hansraj Ahir was forwarded by the CVC to...

ON BOARD PM'S AIRCRAFT: An emotional Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday hit back at Team Anna's allegation of corruption against him in coal block allotments, saying he would give up public life if charges levelled by the activists were proved. "I will give up my public life even if there is an iota of truth in allegations levelled against me, and the country can give me my punishment. My long...