Hyderabad, Jan. 24 -- Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday, January 24, refuted the allegations of irregularities in Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), saying that the site visit certificate system was in place long before the Congress came to power in Telangana and there was no political interference in tender allocation.

Holding a press meet at Jyotirao Phule Bhavan and Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, the Deputy CM demanded managing director of ABN Andhra Jyothi, Vemuri Radhakrishna, retract his statements on SCCL, warning defamation charges otherwise.

On January 18, Bhatti had announced that SCCL would cancel the mining tender for the Naini coal block after a report by the news agency alleged he ha...