Monday, May 16 2005 08:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The CBI is examining the disinvestment of Centaur hotels in Mumbai carried out during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime to ascertain whether any irregularities had been committed in the deals.

Highly-placed sources said the CBI was already probing the deals after filing a "Secret Information Report" (SIR). Such probes are conducted by the investigating agency before proceeding with a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) report after which a court case, if warranted, is registered.

Sources said some vital documents relating to the deals were under CBI scanner. The sources, however, made it clear that no one had been questioned so far in this connection.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said in Parliament on Friday (May 13, 2005) that the Government would order an inquiry into the sale of Centaur hotels following the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG) criticism of the disinvestment process.

Arun Shourie, who was Disinvestment Minister at the time of sale of Centaur hotel, had also repeatedly sought an inquiry into the affairs.