12th March, 2003
Ministry of Defence  


COAL SCAM


RAJYA SABHA

On February 11, 2003 a news item was published in The Indian Express based on the information from civil police, who had found some coal dumps outside the kilns in Kupwara. It was assumed by the police that the coal was meant for the Army. The coal was being carried in civil vehicles and not in Army vehicles. The Army has asked the civil police to provide the vehicle registration numbers to enable the Army to check if the vehicles were carrying coal for the Army.

In case any involvement of Army is established, necessary action to hold Court of Inquiry and to punish the guilty will be taken.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written reply to Smt Saroj Dubey in Rajya Sabha today.