The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) operations in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Friday after allegations of large-scale coal diversion surfaced.
CBI teams from Delhi carried out simultaneous searches at the Garjanbahal coal mine and the Kanika railway siding. Investigators focused on the suspected illegal transportation of nearly 75,000 tonnes of coal that reportedly went unaccounted for during dispatch from the mine to the siding.
Officials said three CBI teams launched the probe to trace how coal moved through the railway siding and who received it. As part of the investigation, Kanika railway siding in-charge CP Sethi was taken from his residence to the siding for questioning. Some employees from the Garjanbahal mine also faced interrogation at the site.
Sethi previously served as the project in-charge of the Garjanbahal mine. Investigators believe the alleged diversion occurred during his earlier tenure. He currently holds responsibility as the railway siding in-charge.
CBI officers examined documents and records related to coal dispatch and transportation. They scrutinised logs, invoices, and movement registers to identify discrepancies. Sources indicated that further action will follow once the probe establishes accountability and confirms the scale of diversion.
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