New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation has lodged a case of criminal misconduct against Adani Enterprises, Gautam Adani’s flagship company, for alleged irregularities in the supply of coal to Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APEGNCO).
In a first information report (FIR) that was made public on Thursday evening, the investigative agency has also named Virender Singh, the former chairman of National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF), then managing director of NCCF, G.P. Gupta and ex-senior advisor S.C. Singhal for criminal conspiracy under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Also read: The Adani Juggernaut Is Expanding on All Fronts, Australian Coal Need Not Be One of Them
The CBI has alleged that in 2010, the state-run Andhra Pradesh firm had floated a tender for the supply of 6 lakh MT of coal on free-on-rail destination basis to two power plants and stations.
The tender enquiry was forwarded to seven PSUs including NCCF, a multi-state cooperative that comes under the Union consumer affairs ministry.
According to the FIR, the probe agency has alleged that the tender process that was carried out by NCCF’s Hyderabad branch in 2010 showed “undue favour” to Adani Enterprises.
“The aforesaid acts of commissions and omissions on the part of the senior management of the NCCF disclose that during their tenure, they acted in a manner unbecoming of public servants and committed irregularities by way of manipulation in the selection of bidders, thereby giving undue favours to Adani Enterprises Ltd. in award of work for supply of coal to APGENCO despite its disqualification,” it added.
The CBI’s case is based on a complaint that was forwarded by the consumer affairs ministry.
When The Wire reached out to the Adani Group, their spokesperson issued a statement. It has been reproduced in full below:
“There is a news item about lodging of an FIR by CBI against National Cooperative Consumer Federation and Adani Enterprises Ltd. related to supply of imported coal. The subject matter is an old one. Adani Enterprises Ltd. has complied with the process, all formalities and relevant laws for the subject supply of coal. The Company has not done anything wrong in supply of coal.
It’s a preliminary investigation report only. The Company shall respond to the same and shall also put forth the factual position to the authority.”
CBI Adani FIR by The Wire on Scribd