Coal scam: CBI seeks nod for prosecuting Karnataka IAS officer

Senior Karnataka cadre IAS officer Yogendra Tripathi is in trouble with the CBI seeking sanction to prosecute him in connection with corruption charges arising out of a coal scam case.

Tripathi, a 1985-batch officer, is presently chairman-cum-managing director of Food Corporation of India (FCI). The case pertains to irregularities committed by officials of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) to give pecuniary benefits to private parties by ignoring joint venture conditions on coal blocks.

Six coal blocks Kiloni, Manora Deep, and Baranj I-IV were allocated in 2003 to a joint venture between KPCL and private parties.

Tripathi was managing director of KPCL between October 2010 and February 2012 when the alleged irregularities were committed. He could not be contacted for his comments.

An FIR was registered in 2015 under Prevention of Corruption Act and cheating and the CBI initiated a probe against unknown officials of KPCL, unknown officials of Karnataka EMTA Coal Mine Limited and Gupta Coal Fields and Washeries Limited.

CBI sources said the agency has forwarded a letter seeking prosecution sanction to Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in the Ministry of Personnel. The DoPT is seeking comments from Karnataka government.

While it is learnt that the state has given a clean chit to the officer, the DoPT and Central Vigilance Commission are further examining the issue before a decision is taken.