Stating that there was enough prima facie evidence against them, the special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Wednesday summoned industrialist Naveen Jindal, former Coal Minister Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and 12 others as accused in a case related to the allocation of the Amarkonda Murgadangal block in Birbhum in Jharkhand in 2008.
“I am of the considered opinion that prima facie offences ….are clearly made out against all the 15 accused,” said Special CBI judge Bharat Parashar. They will have to appear in court on May 22.
The CBI had charged that the Jindal firms acquired Jharkhand’s Amarkonda Murgadangal coal block by misrepresenting facts on previous allocations, land and water supply, when Dasari Narayan Rao was the Minister of State for Coal.
On the allegation of illegal gratification in exchange for the allotment, the court said: “The clandestine manner in which Rs. 2 crore stood transferred in favour of Sowbhagya Media Ltd. a company controlled by Dasari Narayan Rao from Jindal Realty Pvt. Ltd. further shows a well planned conspiracy.”
A JSPL spokesperson denied all allegations. “The said allocation was made to the company on merits.”
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