New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and some public servants conspired to favour Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd. in the allocation of a coal block, the CBI told a special court Wednesday while opposing the bail application of the accused.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told special Judge Bharat Parashar that Koda, former Jharkhand chief secretary Ashok Kumar Basu, ex-coal secretary Harish Chandra Gupta and others conspired to favour Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL) in allocation of the Rajhara coal block.
The CBI added that Gupta misled then prime minister Manmohan Singh saying that the recommendation was based on merit.
The agency requested the court not to grant them bail and instead put them in jail.
However, Koda and the others requested the court to grant them bail as they have co-operated during the investigation of the case.
The accused said they will appear in the court on every date fixed for hearing.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its order order on the bail application and said that it will be delivered at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
All the accused appeared in the court in pursuance of summons issued against them. The other accused who were issued summons are Vini Iron and Steel director Vaibhav Tulsyan, Chartered Accountant Navin Kumar Tulsyan, two government officials - Basant Kumar Bhatacharya and Bipin Bihari Singh - and the alleged middleman Vijay Joshi.
They were chargesheeted on various charges like cheating and criminal conspiracy, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The probe agency had also named Kolkata-based company VISUL as an accused in the case in a chargesheet filed in December last year.
The case involves allocation of coal blocks to Vini Iron and Steel in Jharkhand's Rajhara town in which its directors and unknown public servants of the coal ministry, the Jharkhand government and others were named as accused in the first information report lodged in September 2012.
It said the company was not recommended by either the union steel ministry or the Jharkhand government. However, the then Jharkhand chief secretary, who had attended the 36th screening committee meeting July 3, 2008, had signed its minutes recommending the allocation to the firm.
The CBI said the company had fraudulently claimed an inflated net worth and its ownership too had changed hands ahead of the 36th screening committee meeting.
OP Chautala: Chautala wanted to form a third front in national politics, and due to this reason this dream remained unfulfilled
INLD supremo Om Prakash Chautala wanted to form a third front in national politics. Chautala, along with his turbaned brother former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, and close friends Bihar
Protests continue in Russia against Putin: Russian pilot said in-flight – attacking Ukraine is a crime; Russian journalist said - ashamed of my country
Putin is facing the ire of his countrymen after the attack on Ukraine. People in Russia are protesting against the war. Meanwhile, a Russian pilot has condemned his country's attack on Ukraine.
Shahid Kapoor doesn't feel scared of 'Rocky Bhai', reveals the real reason for the postponement of 'Jersey'
There was news about Shahid Kapoor's film 'Jersey' last day that the makers have extended the release date of the film. This news was quite shocking as Shahid and the film's actress Mrunal Thakur
Rajinikanth: Rajinikanth received a golden visa from the UAE government, said - 'I feel very honored'
South superstar Rajinikanth has been given a golden visa by the Culture and Tourism Department of UAE. The actor has informed his fans about this achievement by sharing it on social media.
Devotees thronged to Haridwar on Makar Sankranti, taking a dip in the Ganges River amidst the biting cold.Devotees thronged to Haridwar on Makar Sankranti, taking a dip in the Ganges River amidst the biting cold.
In the holy city of Haridwar, a sea of devotion surged today on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti. Since the early hours of dawn, bathing rituals have been underway at Har Ki Pauri and
PM Modi's assurance, new education policy will be fully implemented
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured that the new National Education Policy will be fully implemented. He said that the new education policy has been approved after deliberations and
Vande Bharat of Rajasthan will be the world's first semi-high speed passenger train, travel at low fares; it will be root
Ajmer-Delhi Cantt.Vande Bharat Train: Today the country's 14th Vande Bharat Express train is going to be inaugurated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express
Pace will be ace for Proteas against NZ: Ponting
Auckland, March 23 (IANS) Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Monday said South Africa should consider unleashing an all-out pace assault against New Zealand in the semifinal of the Cricket
PFI now gets a shock from the Supreme Court, a petition challenging the ban rejected; Got this advice
SC on PFI Popular Front of India (PFI), an organization banned under UAPA for anti-national activities, has received a setback from the Supreme Court today. The Supreme Court has refused to hear PFI's
The result of giving the bridge work to the watchman - 135 deaths: instead of wood, aluminum was installed, the load increased ... the cable did not change, that's why the Morbi bridge broke
Morbi's suspension bridge accident happened because of its new flooring. In the name of renovation, the wooden base of the bridge was replaced with four layers of aluminum sheets. This greatly
