CBI files FIR against Adani owned company in 2010 coal supply case

A day after Congress accused Modi government of tweaking rules in favour of industrialist Gautam Adani to allow him to participate in a ₹ 45,000 crore submarine project, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against Adani Enterprises (AE) – a company owned by Gautam Adani in 2010 coal supply case.

Top investigative agency has also named National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF) for allegedly manipulating a tender to give AE a contract to supply imported coal to a state-run Andhra Pradesh power firm.

According to the FIR filed by the agency, the bid by Adani’s company did not qualify when the tender was opened but officials gave Adani Enterprises “undue favour” and handed the contract to the company.

The CBI case names Virender Singh, former chairman of National Cooperative Consumer Federation, former NCCF managing director GP Gupta and its then senior advisor SC Singhal apart from Adani Enterprises.

As per media reports, the CBI took up the injury in this case in 2017 after consumer affairs ministry flagged alleged manipulation in the tender.

According to the FIR, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation had floated a limited tender inquiry in June 2010 for supply of 6 lakh metric tonnes of imported coal to Dr Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Plant, Vijayawada and Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant, Kadapa via Kalinada/Vizag/Chennai/Krishnapatnam or any other ports.

As per the FIR, the NCCF selected Maharaja Brothers Coal Limited to take up the job but later floated an open tender, eventually giving the award of work to Adani Enterprises.