“They need to be dealt with firmly and their blocks de-allocated as per the terms”

The Coal Ministry has acknowledged that the conduct of the coal block allottees, some of whom are among those who were issued show-cause notices and raided by the CBI, had not been above board as they diverted coal for sale in the open market in violation of the condition of allotment and sold their companies at a heavy premium after getting a coal block. This acknowledgement came in its internal note on coal policy.