<h1>Indian Government Faces CBI Probe Over Alleged Irregularities in Coal Block Allocations; Nine FIRs Filed Against Companies.</h1> The Indian government allocated 218 coal blocks to various companies under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973. Of these, 42 blocks have been de-allocated, with two reallocated. The allocations were based on recommendations from a Screening Committee. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating alleged irregularities in allocations to private companies from 1993 to 2009 and public sector companies. Nine FIRs have been filed against nine companies, and the Ministry of Coal has issued show cause notices to eight companies. One company's block had already been de-allocated. This information was disclosed by the Minister of State for Coal in the Rajya Sabha.