Jharkhand coal scam case: Ex-CM Madhu Koda found guilty of criminal conspiracy

NEW DELHI: A special court on Wednesday pronounced former

Jharkhand

chief minister

Madhu Koda

and three others guilty of criminal conspiracy and corruption in the 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 allocation of Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand.

The quantum of punishment for all four accused will be announced on Thursday.


The court, however, acquitted four persons -- 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.

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

The CBI said that Gupta, who was chairman of the screening committee, had allegedly concealed facts from then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had been heading the

Coal Ministry

as well, that Jharkhand had not recommended VISUL for allocation of a coal block.

They were summoned as accused after the court took cognizance 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.

(With PTI inputs)