CBI registers 3 PEs to probe green clearances, may call Jayanthi Natarajan

Hours after Jayanthi Natarajan said she was ready to face a probe over green clearances granted by her, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered fresh three Preliminary Enquiries (PEs) in this regard.

CBI registers 3 PEs to probe green clearances, may call Jayanthi Natarajan

New Delhi: Hours after Jayanthi Natarajan said she was ready to face a probe over green clearances granted by her, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered fresh three Preliminary Enquiries (PEs) in this regard.

According to a news agency, the former environment minister may be called soon for clarifications on clearances she gave to companies during her tenure.

With this, the number of PEs registered by the CBI has risen to five. The agency maintained complete silence about the details of the fresh PEs which were registered earlier this month.

When contacted, Joint Director (Policy) RS Bhatti, who is also the in-charge of media relations in the agency, did not respond to queries related to the three inquiries.

The agency had registered two PEs last year in October against unknown officials of the Environment Ministry.

The sources said several Environment Ministry officials have been examined in connection with the clearances granted during Natarajan's tenure which has prompted the CBI to examine her in connection with the probe.

The CBI has also examined state government officials and gone through documents. The agency wants to know from Natarajan the rationale of clearing some files while holding back clearances in some matters, the sources said.

The sources said agency has also got a letter in which her predecessor Jairam Ramesh had questioned clearances given to some companies.

(With PTI inputs)

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