Our Corporate Bureau

Kolkata, Nov 5: The Union coal ministry has given a Coal India Ltd official, a director’s post at a CIL subsidiary despite adverse reports by the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Bureau of Investigation and even CIL’s resident audit office.

The official, Mr SA Yusuf, was chief general manager for personnel at CIL, when the adverse reports cropped up. He has given a chargesheet but then transferred as CGM of Western Coalfields with
officiating charge as director. Soon, he was confirmed in the director’s post.

Key officials at the coal ministry and CIL headquarters did not reply to questions posed by The Financial Express on Mr Yusuf’s appointment.

Mr Yusuf was nailed by a special unit of the CBI for gross misuse of his official telephones installed at his residence, and official car. The CBI’s report was backed by CIL’s own resident audit office.

The CVC, after studying the case of “massive” misuse of telephones, had recommended minor penalties and recovery of the amount paid by CIL for the bills. Following this, Mr Yusuf was chargesheeted in August 2001.

However, the coal ministry official who cleared Mr Yusuf’s appointment as director refused to comment on the chargesheet.
Mr Prakash Chand, deputy secretary in the coal ministry, said: “I have issued the appointment letter of Mr Yusuf. But I will not comment on anything else. I am not authorised to speak to the press.”