The CBI has registered a case against a leading coal company owned by a Chattisgarh-based media baron, officials of the South Eastern Coalfields and officials of Ex-Servicemen Transport Companies for causing a loss of over Rs eight crore to the exchequer, CBI spokesperson Harsh Bhal said.

Sources said the FIR was registered against Aryan Coal Beneficiation Pvt Ltd, owned by the owner of popular Hindi daily ‘Hari Bhoomi’, and its directors G C Mirag, Captain Rudra Sen Sindhu, Vir Sen Sindhu and other officials.

“73488.64 metric tonnes of washed coal meant for Kota and Suratgarh Power Stations in Rajasthan, lifted between April 2006 and July 2006, was mis-utilised and misappropriated by the private firm in connivance with certain unknown officials of SECL and the ESM owned transport companies which transport coal to the coal handling plants and washeries,” the spokesperson said. The misappropriation caused a loss of over Rs eight crore to the exchequer.