Coal scam: Special court holds ex-Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda guilty

Special court on Wednesday holds former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda guilty of corruption along with others in coal scam case.

The special court in delhi also convicts ex-coal secretary H C Gupta and others in the case. 

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar held Koda, Gupta and other accused persons, including ex-Jharkhand chief secretary A K Basu and private company Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL), guilty of varying offences.

However, the court will hear argument on quantum of punishment tomorrow.

Earlier, the court had directed all the accused to remain present before court on the date of judgment in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand.

The irregularities were found in the allotment of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to Kolkata-based firm Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL).

Besides Koda, Gupta and the firm, the other accused in the case include former Jharkhand Chief Secretary A K Basu, two public servants — Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh, VISUL’s Director Vaibhav Tulsyan, Koda’s alleged close aide Vijay Joshi and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan, said a newspaper report. 

The offences include criminal conspiracy in the case pertaining to irregularities in allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to the Kolkata-based VISUL. 

The court also acquitted four persons including VISUL's Director Vaibhav Tulsyan and two public servants Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh and chartered accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan of all charges.

Earlier, all the accused persons were summoned after the court took cognisance of alleged offences under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants) of IPC and under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.

The CBI reportedy said that Gupta, who was chairman of the screening committee, had allegedly concealed facts from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who then headed the Coal Ministry too, that Jharkhand had not recommended VISUL for allocation of a coal block.

Meanwhile, the accused have refuted the allegations levelled against them.

(With PTI Inputs)