December 13,2017:

CBI had alleged that VISUL had applied for the allocation of Rajhara North coal block on January 8, 2007. Although Jharkhand Government and the Steel Ministry did not recommend VISUL’s case for the coal block allocation, 36th Screening Committee recommended the block to accused firm.

On Wednesday, a Special Court pronounced Former Jharkhand CM Madhu Koda and three others guilty of the Criminal Conspiracy and corruption in Coal Scam case.

Special CBI Judge Bharat Parashar held that Koda, Ex-Coal Secretary HC Gupta, Former Jharkhand Chief Secretary Ashok Kumar Basu and another public servant had conspired to favour Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL) in the allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand.

Quantum of punishment for all the four accused will be announced on Thursday.

Special Court, has however, acquitted the four persons, VISUL’s Director Vaibhav Tulsyan and two other public servants Basant Kumar Bhattacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh and Chartered Accountant Navin Kumar.

CBI further stated that Gupta, who was the Chairman of Screening Committee, had allegedly concealed facts from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had been heading Coal Ministry as well, that Jharkhand had not recommended VISUL for allocation of a coal block.

Special Court took cognizance of the alleged offences under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 420 (cheating) and Section 409 (Criminal Breach of trust by the Public Servants) of Indian Penal Code and under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.