CBI to file case against V K Sibal soon

The CBI is all set to register a criminal case against former Director General of Hydrocarbons V K Sibal.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is all set to register a criminal case against former Director General of Hydrocarbons V K Sibal and others for allegedly favouring a US-based company between 2006 and 2008. The allegation against Sibal is also that he tried to scuttle a probe by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) when he was the Director General of Hydrocarbons.

The CBI had registered three Preliminary Enquiry (PE) into the matter in 2009. After nearly two years of investigation,officials said one of the PE,which was registered against Sibal and certain other Petroleum Ministry officials,would be converted into a criminal case by the end of this month. The FIR naming Sibal will be filed under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC.

Sources in the agency also claimed that an American consultancy firm,which was hired by the same US company for terrain mapping at an oil basin,is also under the scanner and is likely to be named in the FIR.

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The first PE registered against Sibal says he had sought undue favours from this consultancy firm.

The agency is also examining the draft report of the Comptroller and Audit General (CAG),recently submitted with the Petroleum Ministry. The probe by the agency has also found irregularities committed while awarding the contract to private petroleum companies.

The CBI said it has already questioned Sibal in connection with the first PE and recorded his statement. However,they will again examine in connection with the other PE.

One of the PE also alleged that Sibal favoured RIL and approved a phenomenal increase in the capital expenditure from $2.4 billion to $8.8 billion for KG D6 field between September and December 2006 in lieu of personal favours/ services from RIL Group of Industries.

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The PE alleged that in lieu of undue favours shown to RIL,Sibal availed of various services including accommodation for his daughters for more than four months at RILs guest house in Mumbai. We have to examine the role of RIL on 7-8 points and the same will be completed within a fortnight, said a top CBI official.