New Delhi: Widening its probe in the coal blocks allocation scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is soon expected to register as many as 17 new criminal cases against firms spread in various parts of the country.

Sources said the agency has already scrutinised a number of documents and financial statements of these firms and it will soon register money laundering cases against them. "Some information has been sought by the agency in this regard from the CBI which is also investigating the scam.