The CBI has named former Minister of State for Coal Dasari Narayana Rao and Congress MP Navin Jindal as accused in the fresh FIR in connection with the allocation of coal mines in the Coalgate scam. Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, Gagan Sponge Ltd and two other companies were named in the FIR for alleged cheating and misrepresentation of facts in bagging Amarkonda Murgadangal block in Jharkhand in 2008.
CBI has even conducted searches at the residence of Dasari Today and might take him into custody soon.
In May this year, CBI recorded the statement of Dasari regarding the allocation of coal block during his tenure as the Union Minister. The veteran filmmaker was a minister in Manmohan Singh cabinet during the period 2004-2008.
Dasari always denied his involvement in the Coalgate scam. He maintained that the mines can be allotted only after getting the signature of Prime Minister and he can't take decision on his own though he is a coal minister.
Coalgate scam is the biggest scam in the country till date and main opposition BJP alleges Congress is trying to save PM Manmohan Singh who was also Coal Minister for a period of time when the scam took place.